Digital health refers to the use of IT tools and services for delivering better healthcare services. It improves the quality of care through ready access to lab test results, and drug information systems, which alert pharmacists to prevent harmful drug interactions. In addition, digital health provides more efficient care, as compared to traditional healthcare technologies through digital diagnostic techniques and patient online services. Digital health technologies, such as electronic health records (EHR), digital diagnostic systems, and wireless technologies comprises a range of data including patient history, immunization dates, medication, allergies, diagnosis, radiology images, laboratory and tests results, insurance information, and treatment plans. Moreover, the digital health technologies help to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers to reduce medical errors for better coordinated care. These technologies also help to share information with other healthcare organizations and providers, such as medical imaging facilities, emergency facilities, laboratories, clinics, and pharmacies.
The global digital health market is growing at a significant rate, due to increasing demand for advanced healthcare information system, and growing investments by HIT players. In addition, the growing need for remote patient monitoring services, increasing demand of mHealth technologies, and increasing support from government organizations are also driving the growth of the global digital health market.
The factors, such as privacy and security issues; high capital expenditure and maintenance requirement; and inadequate healthcare infrastructure in developing economies are inhibiting the growth of the market. The increasing number of collaboration and partnerships is the key trend that has been observed in the global digital health market.
Geographically, the digital health market in Asia is growing, due to growing geriatric population and surge in the occurrence rate of different chronic diseases. Additionally, the increased patient demand and increasing life expectancy are likely to increase IT investments in the healthcare industry in the region. In terms of technology, the improving healthcare infrastructure, increasing adoption of smartphones, and favorable government supports, such as investments and grants, has fueled the growth of the medical sensors and mHealth market in the region. The increasing government funding on telehealth projects has positive influence on the growth of the telehealth market in the region. The EHR market in Asia is in developing stage and provides huge opportunities for EHR vendors. Moreover, the increasing need to overcome medication errors, reducing healthcare cost, increased government funding, and shortage of medical and IT professionals in the healthcare industry is fuelling the demand for the EHR market in the region
Some of the key companies operating in the global digital health market include AT&T Inc., Cerner Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., General Electric Company, McKesson Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Qualcomm Incorporated, eClinicalWorks, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc., athenahealth Inc., and Epic Systems Corporation.