Digital Health

As health care shifts reimbursement models from fee-for-service to value-based care, new terms and phrases have been surfacing across the industry. Two of the terms emerging with increased usage are “patient engagement” and an “active patient.” But what do they mean? And why are they important?

The proposed multitask learning (MTL) model was developed using data from wearable devices worn by individuals in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to predict outcomes of a depression treatment.

Patients with tuberculosis who used a digital medication reminder monitor had better health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and lower catastrophic costs compared with patients who used a standard therapy.

As a result of the potential of digital therapeutics to increase access to personalized care, many choose less stringent minimal control than typically seen in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Findings in a small sample of patient-caregiver dyads demonstrated high potential for a music intervention’s use in dementia care.

A digital pet app used as a prescription digital therapeutic (PDT) to encourage children to complete prescribed therapies received high engagement and function scores from children living with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

New studies have linked a diet of ultra-processed food to a higher risk of colorectal cancer and to an overall risk of mortality; the CDC endorsed the updated booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech for use against the omicron variant; South Carolina Department of Corrections and Pear Therapeutics are teaming up to support inmates recovering from substance use disorders.

Wearing a physical activity tracker and receiving personalized exercise feedback was linked to better results in exercise performance, weight loss, and other health outcomes among individuals with obesity.

Use of prototype app UpSilent resulted in clinically meaningful changes in tinnitus and superior outcomes across most measures after 12 weeks compared with popular app White Noise.

Children whose parents were more engaged with an intervention focused on obesity saw greater results compared with children whose parents were less engaged.

Researchers found automated foot strike detection is viable for smartphone-based fall risk classification in patients with lower limb amputations.

After 2 years of follow-up, more than a quarter of patients who used a digital therapeutic delivering cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia achieved insomnia remission.

To ensure patients will use digital health solutions, they need to be at the table when these tools are being designed, said Amila Patel, PharmD, chief clinical officer, Navigating Cancer.

Researchers developed a framework to pull high-resolution digital phenotypes from wearable devices and use them to predict the risk of cardiometabolic disease.

Telemedicine visits can make physicians more efficient, but the ability to report symptoms can add to the workload burden as staff try to figure out which symptoms need to be addressed, said Susan Escudier, MD, FACP, vice president of value-based care and quality programs, Texas Oncology.

The mobile intervention, based on the Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change, significantly improved self-management behaviors among patients with tuberculosis (TB).

Navigating Cancer has found patients, including those who are elderly, are adopting applications to stay connected with their care teams, said Amila Patel, PharmD, chief clinical officer, Navigating Cancer.

The use of digital health solutions has been a tremendous benefit during the pandemic that should continue, said Susan Escudier, MD, FACP, vice president, value-based care and quality programs, Texas Oncology.

Participants in a digital acute musculoskeletal program experienced better pain and function outcomes compared with nonparticipants, demonstrating benefits for acute and subacute musculoskeletal conditions.

Elaine Goodman, MD, MBA, clinical lead for population health management at Mass General Brigham, talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic should impact developments in digital health management going forward.

To reduce bias based on the user’s current health status, a mobile health intervention used a future-self avatar to help individuals understand long-term effects of physical activity and nutrition on their body.

Our experts conclude by interpreting ways to better educate both payers and providers on PDTs.

Diana Brixner, RPh, PhD, comments on how incorporating value-based pilot programs would impact her decision-making with PDT coverage as a payer.

Drs Podesta and Brixner discuss possible ways to improve access to PDTs for every party involved—patient, payer, and provider.

Two medical experts relay their ideas on how to better improve the payer-provider relationship surrounding PDT use.

Panelists at the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions 2022 Leadership Summit discussed the latest innovations in digital therapeutics and how they benefit patients on an individual and broad scale.

Digital health care has been a key initiative at Texas Oncology, because it ensure patients can receive better care at their home, explained Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, executive vice president of Texas Oncology.

Two stakeholders involved in investment and development of behavioral care services discuss the potential of digital therapeutics as a cost-effective alternative to address unmet mental health needs during an AHIP 2022 session.

Patients with substance abuse disorder (SUD) saw a significant reduction in hospital encounters and per-patient costs after the initiation of a prescription digital therapeutic.

Dr Brixner highlights the important factors a payer must look at when determining PDT coverage, and Dr Podesta comments from the provider perspective.