Digital health is a fast-developing area with innovators are developing products and strategies in telehealth, health information systems and smartphone apps.
In November 2014 a new framework: to transform outcomes for patients and citizens in the document Personalised health and care 2020 – Using data and technology to transform outcomes for patients and citizens was published. It sets out how better use of data and technology can improve health, transform quality and reduce the cost of services. Click here for a summary.
This framework builds on the commitment to exploit the information revolution outlined in the NHS Five Year Forward View also published in November 2014.
Within the Oxford AHSN region – and across the NHS – technological innovation is already making a difference to patients. One successful local example is a better monitoring system to help women who develop diabetes during pregnancy.
During 2014 the Oxford AHSN held a series of events to support smartphone app development (for details, click on the links in the left-hand menu).
- Click here for a summary of the technologies presented at the Oxford AHSN ‘Map that app’ events.
- Click here for a roadmap produced by the Oxford AHSN to help mobile app developers maximise patient benefits and commercial potential.
In 2015 the Oxford AHSN is broadening its approach to establish a community of interest in digital healthcare. We want to facilitate a productive dialogue between innovators and clinicians, patients and commissioners so that the products and services developed are in line with needs, support better healthcare and lead to better communication between patients and clinicians.
Our first digital healthcare event of 2015 was in Buckinghamshire on 26 January. It was attended by over 60 people including clinicians, academics and industry representatives. Some good connections were made, particularly between frontline healthcare professionals and digital health developers. This was followed by our collaboration with Isis Innovation in June.
Contact Amy Shearman to find out more about our work in digital healthcare.