Beyond the Speculation: Mapping the Real Impacts of Digitalization on the Slovenian Healthcare Business Model

A New Healthcare Alliance: Consumer Engagement in the New Healthcare Economy

The field of healthcare has undergone a paradigm shift with the integration of telemedicine and digital health technologies. This paper delves into recent breakthroughs in these domains, exploring how advancements have reshaped patient care, accessibility, and overall health outcomes. Additionally, the paper envisions the future potential of these technologies, outlining a roadmap towards a more connected, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare system. Telemedicine and Digital Health have emerged as transformative forces in contemporary healthcare, revolutionizing the way medical services are delivered and experienced. This paper provides a succinct overview of recent advances in these domains and envisions their future potential. Recent breakthroughs in telemedicine have propelled healthcare beyond traditional boundaries. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technologies, including wearable devices and smart sensors, enable real-time data collection, empowering healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely. Teleconsultations and virtual visits have become integral, providing accessible alternatives to in-person consultations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a pivotal role in diagnostics, enhancing precision through the analysis of medical imaging and diagnostic tests. In parallel, Digital Health innovations are reshaping patient engagement and health management. Mobile Health Applications empower individuals to actively participate in their well-being, facilitating self-monitoring, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications. Blockchain technology ensures the security and interoperability of health data, while the Internet of Things (IoT) facilitates continuous data collection through connected devices. Looking forward, the future potential of telemedicine and digital health is promising. Enhanced patient engagement through interactive platforms and virtual communities is anticipated, promoting active participation in healthcare. Predictive analytics, fueled by AI, is poised to enable proactive and preventive care interventions, leveraging large datasets to identify patterns and risk factors. Telemedicine is expected to bridge healthcare disparities by expanding access to specialized care in underserved regions, fostering remote consultations and tele-education initiatives. Furthermore, the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) in therapy is envisioned to transform mental health interventions, rehabilitation, and pain management. The synergy between telemedicine and digital health represents a dynamic evolution in healthcare delivery. The reviewed advances and future potential highlight a trajectory towards a more connected, patient-centric, and efficient healthcare system. Embracing these innovations promises to redefine the future of healthcare, transcending geographical constraints and fostering a holistic approach to well-being.

Purpose: This study explores the effects of digital transformation on healthcare business models in Zimbabwe, focusing on the perceptions and implications among healthcare professionals. The purpose of this research is to understand how digital technologies influence healthcare service delivery, patient outcomes, and organizational sustainability within the Zimbabwean context. Methodology: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study involved a population of 100 healthcare professionals from which a sample of 80 participants was selected through both probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Probability sampling provided a representative sample, while non-probability sampling offered targeted insights. Findings: The findings indicate that digital transformation significantly enhances efficiency, accessibility, and the quality of healthcare services. Specifically, the integration of digital technologies has led to improved patient engagement, streamlined processes, and enhanced decision-making within healthcare organizations. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study's unique contribution lies in its comprehensive empirical analysis of digital transformation's impact on healthcare business models in Zimbabwe, filling a notable gap in existing literature. The research provides valuable insights into how digital tools can reshape healthcare practices and business strategies. Based on these findings, the study recommends several actions for stakeholders in Zimbabwe's healthcare sector: policymakers should prioritize investments in digital infrastructure to ensure equitable access to technology across all healthcare facilities; healthcare organizations should foster a culture of innovation and implement training programs to enhance digital skills among professionals; and promoting collaborations between the public and private sectors is crucial to maximize resources and expertise in adopting digital solutions. These recommendations are designed to guide policy and practice in leveraging digital transformation to improve healthcare outcomes in Zimbabwe.

Has traditional medicine had its day? The need to redefine academic medicine

Sharing information safely and securely: the foundation of a modern health care system.

Digital health technologies are crucial for achieving universal health coverage (UHC), especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited digital infrastructure. This study aimed to assess digital health capacity across multiple LMICs and evaluate its association with evidence-based practice (EBP) and patient-centered care (PCC). We analyzed Service Provision Assessment data collected over the past decade, spanning 5311 facilities and 20,880 pediatric visits across eight LMICs. Digital health capacity was measured using the WHO Classification of Digital Health Interventions (CDHI) across five domains: digital infrastructure, client engagement, healthcare providers, data services, and health system managers. EBP was assessed via ten binary items, while PCC was derived from eleven exit interview items using exploratory factor analysis. Multilevel regression models explored relationships between digital health capacity and both EBP and PCC. Overall digital health capacity was low (mean = 0.35), with notably low scores for digital infrastructure (0.02), healthcare providers (0.21), and health system managers (0.06). Digital health capacity was significantly associated with improved EBP (Coef. = 0.146, p < 0.001), particularly through digital infrastructure (Coef. = 0.183, p = 0.029), client engagement (Coef. = 0.205, p < 0.001), and provider capacity (Coef. = 0.142, p < 0.001). No significant effect emerged for PCC (Coef.=-0.013, p = 0.531). The level of digital health technology in LMICs is generally insufficient, particularly in terms of digital infrastructure, healthcare provider training and health system managers. Although the implementation of digital health technologies has the potential to improve the EBP, its effect on enhancing PCC is relatively limited.

Decision-makers from the Slovenian healthcare system have generally failed to look beyond the information and communication technology, while trying to implement highly intricate and expensive eHealth project. Accordingly, functional integration of planned information and communication technology solutions with various business aspects of the healthcare system has remained largely ignored, while the existing and obsolete business model of the Slovenian healthcare system continues to operate significantly limited and unadapted to the increasing and ubiquitous penetration of information and communication technologies into the healthcare environment. This article explores the characteristics and structure of the business model concept, identifies the impending effects of informatization on the healthcare business model, and finally provides a framework for information and communication technology-induced transformation of the existing healthcare business model in Slovenia. The research is based on the case study evidence and structured interviews with the distinguished experts from the cross-sectional areas of the healthcare system strongly related to the business model concept. Research results imply that effective transformation of the healthcare business model should consider various factors from the healthcare ecosystem, including a redefinition of the functions and relationships of and between the main actors of the business model, and the reconfiguration of the organizational, structural, and technological elements in line with the long-term business objectives.

BackgroundArtificial intelligence (AI) and digital health technological innovations from startup companies used in clinical practice can yield better health outcomes, reduce health care costs, and improve patients' experience. However, the integration, translation, and adoption of these technologies into clinical practice are plagued with many challenges and are lagging. Furthermore, explanations of the impediments to clinical translation are largely unknown and have not been systematically studied from the perspective of AI and digital health care startup founders and executives.ObjectiveThe aim of this paper is to describe the barriers to integrating early-stage technologies in clinical practice and health care systems from the perspectives of digital health and health care AI founders and executives.MethodsA stakeholder focus group workshop was conducted with a sample of 10 early-stage digital health and health care AI founders and executives. Digital health, health care AI, digital health–focused venture capitalists, and physician executives were represented. Using an inductive thematic analysis approach, transcripts were organized, queried, and analyzed for thematic convergence.ResultsWe identified the following four categories of barriers in the integration of early-stage digital health innovations into clinical practice and health care systems: (1) lack of knowledge of health system technology procurement protocols and best practices, (2) demanding regulatory and validation requirements, (3) challenges within the health system technology procurement process, and (4) disadvantages of early-stage digital health companies compared to large technology conglomerates. Recommendations from the study participants were also synthesized to create a road map to mitigate the barriers to integrating early-stage or novel digital health technologies in clinical practice.ConclusionsEarly-stage digital health and health care AI entrepreneurs identified numerous barriers to integrating digital health solutions into clinical practice. Mitigation initiatives should create opportunities for early-stage digital health technology companies and health care providers to interact, develop relationships, and use evidence-based research and best practices during health care technology procurement and evaluation processes.

Digital health has become an increasingly essential component of a high-performing health system. Changes to health care delivery during COVID-19 highlighted the need to enable digital health and modernize health information systems. Canada needs a national approach to digital health to enable our health care system to operate effectively in the 21stcentury. The current siloed approach limits the ability of patients to benefit from digital health and of health institutions to integrate digital tools. A unified approach to digital health will enable Canada to offer a health care system commensurate with the expectations of all Canadians. This paper details five policy positions to promote this unified, digital health infrastructure in Canada. Patient Data Access is Essential: Patients should own their own data. They must be given access to their data upon request in a computable format, without charge or delay. Data Movement and Data Sharing is Imperative: Digital data sharing is both a key component of digital health and a crucial enabler of digital health, but it is currently poorly supported. Canada must develop a uniform data interoperability strategy aligned with international standards. Digital Health is Care: The provision of digital health is now embedded in our health care delivery. Canada must formalize the inclusion of digital health as an essential element of our public health system. Digital Health must be Inclusive: All Canadians are entitled to an equal opportunity to participate in digital health. A Federal Approach is Critical: We need a national, collaborative approach to solve the innovation drag caused by our approaches to evaluation, procurement, and privacy/security. Our current siloed approach disadvantages the Canadian health care system, the Canadian population, and Canadian industry. We suggest tangible next steps that leverage data to improve care, promote digital health care for those who need it most, and help Canada become a world leader in digital health innovation that directly benefits Canadian residents and grows our digital health industry.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to ascertain and rank the barriers linked to the implementation of blockchain technology in the health-care business model, as well as to propose possible strategies and framework for barrier management. Design/methodology/approach This research study identifies barriers related to the implementation of blockchain technology in the health-care industry’s business model through a literature review of peer-reviewed journal papers and academic input. After identifying the barriers, the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) is used to rank them in order of significance. Finally, the possible strategies and framework for barrier management are proposed. Findings Through a literature review, 37 barriers related to the implementation of blockchain technology in the health-care industry have been identified. The TOPSIS technique identified interaction with IoT devices and regulatory uncertainty as the primary barriers to implementing the blockchain concept. Resistance to change and health-care data silos are considered less significant barriers. Research limitations/implications The research findings reflect on the responses collected through questionnaires. Beyond the scope of this study, there exist additional techniques for barrier analysis. Practical implications The findings of this research will enable blockchain technology users to conquer the barriers in the way of implementing blockchain technology in health-care business models by adopting strategies and framework. Originality/value The research presented here provides insight into the challenges involved in integrating blockchain technology into the health-care business model. Additionally, the TOPSIS approach is used in this paper to prioritize the identified barriers.

Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions reflect the critical links between food security, nutrition security, health, and health equity, integrated into health care delivery. They comprise programs that provide nutritionally tailored food, free of charge or at a discount, to support disease management, disease prevention, or optimal health, linked to the health care system as part of a patient’s treatment plan. Such programs often prioritize health equity. On 26–27 April, 2023, Tufts University’s Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and Food & Nutrition Innovation Institute held a 2-day National Food is Medicine Summit with leaders, practitioners, and individuals with diverse lived experiences in health care, research, government, advocacy, philanthropy, and the private sector to identify challenges and opportunities to sustainably incorporate FIM services into the health care system and at scale. This report of a meeting describes key themes of the Summit, based on presentations and discussions on momentum around FIM, incorporating FIM in health care, tradeoffs and unintended consequences of various FIM models, scaling of programs, financing and payment mechanisms, educating and engaging the health care workforce, and federal and state government actions and opportunities on FIM. Speakers highlighted examples of recent public and private sector actions on FIM and innovative cross-sector partnerships, including state Medicaid waivers, academic and philanthropic research initiatives, health care system screenings and interventions, and collaborations including community-based organizations and/or entities outside of the food and health care sectors. Challenges and opportunities to broader implementation and scaling of FIM programs identified include incorporating FIM into health care business models, educating the health care workforce, and sustainably scaling FIM programs while leveraging the local connections of community-based organizations. This meeting report highlights recent advances, best practices, challenges, and opportunities discussed at the National Summit to inform future actions on FIM.

This chapter uses a historical perspective to examine the development trajectory of digital health in Singapore since 1980 and the impact of digital health on the current health care system and doctor-patient relationship. It shows that digital health is able to transform a fragmented and provider-centric health care system into a more integrated and patient-centric health care system. Besides, it improves the operational efficiency of health care providers, reduces administrative costs and turnaround time, and empowers patients to contribute in treatment decisions. It shows that the development of digital health requires the government to have strong political will and long-term commitment to support and promote the use of digital health to its full potential and engage stakeholders in the policy making process so that such policy can suit the special needs of stakeholders.

This chapter uses a historical perspective to examine the development trajectory of digital health in Singapore since 1980 and the impact of digital health on the current health care system and doctor-patient relationship. It shows that digital health is able to transform a fragmented and provider-centric health care system into a more integrated and patient-centric health care system. Besides, it improves the operational efficiency of health care providers, reduces administrative costs and turnaround time, and empowers patients to contribute in treatment decisions. It shows that the development of digital health requires the government to have strong political will and long-term commitment to support and promote the use of digital health to its full potential and engage stakeholders in the policy making process so that such policy can suit the special needs of stakeholders.

Digital health technologies and health-care privatisation

Designing digital health applications for climate change mitigation and adaptation.