In the health sector, digital technologies have simplified highly complex systems, and can assist in making healthcare more accessible to a greater volume of people. With healthcare providers under a public obligation to strive for best practice and continuous improvement, it makes sense to embrace innovation and development. It is essential for the healthcare industry to move forward: embracing, engaging with, and employing digital health for the population.
We checked in with Flinders' resident digital health experts – Associate Professors Angie Shafei and Christine Dennis, and Mr Mark Brommeyer – to find out what we can expect in the future.
1. Cybersecurity and Digital Safety
Digital safety is critically important, and particularly so in healthcare; after all, personal health data is highly sensitive, and the health sector remains a target for malicious cyber activity. Public trust in health sector organisations is critical to deliver safe healthcare services, and the imperative to maintain and rapidly restore critical healthcare services, is essential. Across the globe, there is growing demand for healthcare clinicians and managers to be cybersecurity astute, and ensure that cyber protection is in place to address cyber risks.
2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Solutions
Almost every industry will be touched by AI and machine learning, if it hasn’t already (but realistically, it probably has). Consider the overnight sensation that is ChatGPT; it’s natural for humans to look for tools that save time, and the world’s healthcare systems are no different. Machine learning and AI can assist in reducing misdiagnoses, supporting earlier intervention, and advancing sustainable healthcare by analysing unthinkable amounts of data, often more quickly and with greater precision than current human capacity. The future of AI in healthcare is exciting and will rapidly advance predictive, personalised medicine and healthcare treatments contributing to better patient outcomes and improved health and wellbeing.
3. Big Data and Data Analytics
Big data and data analytics are often used in conjunction with artificial intelligence, but each serve different purposes. ‘Big data’ speaks for itself; it is data that is either too complex or large to be processed by traditional data software, but is rich in variety, volume and veracity. Big data and data analytics can be used to help ensure precision healthcare and improve understanding of disease, by making possible highly specific research and trials, and segmenting populations at risk for particular health issues. Big data advances important care and research correlations, then informing causality.
4. Virtual Health and Remote Patient Monitoring
Virtual health and remote patient monitoring has made healthcare more accessible, making at-home and on-demand healthcare available to patients where it might not have been previously. Not only do these tools provide convenience, connectivity and communication, but they can facilitate delivery of care to larger numbers of people and improve staff safety, particularly when greater physical separation is required or the tyranny of distance reduces access to urgent, follow-up and rehabilitation care.
5. Mobile health apps and wearables
The rise in mobile health apps and wearables means that metrics which were not previously monitored by (or for) most individuals – such as sleep quality, heart rate, blood pressure, and physical activity – can now be tracked with ease. This technology is revolutionary for personal health management and wellness, and provides insights that patients can share with their healthcare professionals as it becomes relevant. The rapid increase in the development and use of mental health apps, for example, is seeing improved population outcomes, as recently evidenced through the COVID pandemic. In addition, wearables are contributing to the health, safety and well-being of older people in residential aged care and assisting with maintaining longer independence in their own homes.
Associate Professor Christine Dennis, Mr Mark Brommeyer, and Associate Professor Angie Abdel Shafei
co-designed our Graduate Certificate in Digital Health Management
Understanding emerging trends in digital health management is crucial for every health professional, but particularly those who want to play a role in the revolution of healthcare by introducing and managing digital strategies. If this sounds like you, consider postgraduate studies in digital health management.
At Flinders University, our Graduate Certificate in Digital Health Management will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to take your career in health or aged care to the next level. Our expert academics have co-created the qualification with industry, so you can trust that the skills you learn will immediately be applicable to your current role – and give you the confidence to move upwards.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with Flinders University to co-create the Graduate Certificate in Digital Health Management,” says Lachlan Ophof, General Manager at Calvary Healthcare. “The exceptional teaching provided by Flinders’ academics, combined with Calvary Healthcare’s years of health, digital and virtual care experience, and demand for professionals with digital technology skills in a health context make this course exciting for health professionals.”
Be Fearless. Study Digital Health Management.
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