Digital & data health solutions

James Cassidy, Partner Information Law & Governance, Vincent Buscemi, Partner Commercial Healthcare and Head of Independent Health and Care and Dan Morris, Partner – Clinical Risk at Bevan Brittan LLP analyse the current trends and challenges for implementation

Digital and data driven technology continues to revolutionise healthcare at a rapid pace. It o ers enormous opportunity to transform and future-proof healthcare systems so that they are more a ordable, sustainable and equitable. Utilising digital solutions e ectively can result in lives saved and improved standards, and provides the ability for healthcare operators to manage and engage with patients in new ways.

Research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated the uptake of digital solutions. Now, barely a day seems to pass without news of yet another market-defining deal or technological first in the world of digital health. But while opportunity abounds, challenges remain so innovators and investors need to remember that the attrition rate in this field can be brutal. With this in mind, we consider some of the trending areas for growth as well as some of the ongoing challenges to uptake and wider adoption in the digital health space.

Remote care/virtual wards

Ongoing challenges of capacity - whether that be due to seasonal spikes in demand, backlogs in elective surgical lists or congestion surrounding discharge into longer term care packages - mean that digital solutions that assist healthcare providers to monitor and manage patients safely at home are high on any agenda at the moment. The nomenclature might not be universally agreed but whether we are talking about “virtual wards”, “hospitals without walls” or “remote care”, the core concept is to extend the reach of clinical sta , liberating time and space, while allowing patients to benefit from the comforts and familiarity of care in their own homes.

We o en hear about the potential risks associated with the adoption of technology in these new delivery models, but they need to be balanced against e iciencies in the way in which the care can be provided. There are numerous pitfalls associated with inpatient care which are minimised through the use of remote care including reductions in the risks associated with infection control, muscle wastage, pressure sores and general deconditioning. Remote monitoring, wearables and data transfer platforms that securely allow clinically reliable data to be passed from patient to the treating healthcare practitioner without the need for face to face care are all attractive areas for providers, investors and funders at the moment.

Artificial Intelligence

The ability to harness benefits of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the provision of healthcare is undoubtedly vast. While AI continues to dominate the news headlines at the moment for potentially the wrong reasons, the use of AI in healthcare provides some very exciting opportunities, particularly in the field of diagnostics. Trials utilising machine learning algorithms to review scans, imaging and analyse test results are already being rolled out in certain areas of medicine with promising results.

AI can enable those in imaging and pathology to optimise working patterns and utilise their time more e ectively. AI can be used to triage and risk rate patients, allowing those who need to be seen promptly to jump to the front of the queue. Equally, AI can be used to filter out unnecessary referrals, again freeing up workforce time to focus on growing the capacity of imaging services.

System and efficiency transformation tech

Another area with high potential is that of systems e iciency. Technologies that can help to analyse and solve problems around patient flow, triaging, sta and clinic rostering, discharge bottlenecking, DNAs and consumable supplies are, understandably, high priority for purchasers of health tech. Digital and data solutions that are able intelligently and safely stratify risk, as well as redirect patients to the most appropriate care settings and resources to the most needed areas, are likely to be big winners in the race for digital adoption.

Digital therapeutics & self care

Digital therapeutics are evidence-based interventions driven by so ware that assist patients to self-manage symptoms and thereby improve quality of life and clinical outcomes. Conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes and other chronic health conditions have been targeted as areas where patient empowerment and data ownership can shape behavioural change to improve morbidity. Wearables, alarms and interactive symptom checkers all help to reduce health crises and keep people from having to attend urgent and emergency care settings. The next challenge will be to move this technology beyond purely physical health conditions to support mental health and psychological well-being.

Genomics

Genomics – broadly the study of genes, their functions and their influence on the growth, development and workings (or not) of the human body – is yet another area where data driven technology has the potential to be a complete game changer. Big data analytics in DNA sequencing, digital genomics support tools and chatbots that assist with the genetic counselling process are revolutionising an area of medicine that already seemed at the vanguard of scientific possibility.

Challenges

While the opportunities to dramatically improve the e iciency and equitable access to treatment through digital healthcare are undeniable, there remain a number of significant challenges to be overcome.

1. Infrastructure

When compared to the pharmaceutical industry, the systems, processes and infrastructure relating to the development of digital health solutions is not comparable in its maturity. Strong partnerships between industry, providers and governments will be important to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are able engage in an open and collaborative manner and to identify a shared vision and direction for all to follow.

2. Regulation/standards

There is a need for the regulatory standards required of digital health products to be harmonised and agreed across health systems and jurisdictions. Driving innovative and dynamic markets attractive to innovators must be balanced with the need to ensure patient safety. Regulation o en lags behind innovation, the use of AI being a key example, and a sophisticated digital health system must set minimum requirements that can adapt as quickly as the technology.

3. Uptake and adoption

With thousands of products on the market already, and thousands more waiting in the wings, identifying those solutions which are truly ground-breaking can be hard. Multiple products will make identical (or near identical) claims about how innovative they are and the benefits they can bring, but this duplication can just cause confusion. Providing clarity on what products really do, how they work in practice and the benefits they bring will drive the ability for providers to adopt new technologies.

4. Digital exclusion/trust

Finding ways to ensure that access to digital healthcare is available to all is a complex problem and the desire to grow the uptake of digital healthcare should not come at a cost of widening inequality of access. Furthermore, demonstrating to patients, clinicians and operators that they can put their trust in digital solutions to provide evidence based healthcare will be vital. Many still have reservations about the motivations and ethics behind digital solutions, so providing transparency around how they work and how data is used will be an important factor in developing trust.

5. Interoperability

With the wide range of digital health solutions on the market, they must be able to talk to one another. Solutions which are designed to be used with proprietary so ware result in an inflexible system and one which increases vulnerability to supply chains. With a single hospital potentially reliant on thousands of di erent digital products, developing a universal specification and standards (including minimum safety standards) will be key to ensuring a joined-up healthcare system.

These challenges are not easy to resolve and will require strategies to be put in place to drive innovation in a way that ensures change continues at pace, while providing certainty for all. A starting point will be for all those within the sector to develop and use common language to ensure the discussion can continue and the opportunities are not missed. www.bevanbrittan.com