The importance of prescribing digital health
Learn why we need to assess digital health products, such as apps, before you can recommend them to patients and people who use your services. Discover an easy way to make recommendations and track what you recommend.
Expert: Liz Ashall-Payne, CEO, ORCHA Health Ltd
Summary of the webinar
Overview
This module focuses on why and how digital health technologies should be prescribed or recommended to patients and clients. Liz Ashall-Payne emphasizes the importance of having a structured system for prescribing digital health tools, similar to the process used for traditional pharmaceuticals, to ensure patient safety and risk management.
Key Topics Covered
1. Why a System for Prescribing Digital Health Technologies is Needed
- Healthcare professionals must carefully consider both what they recommend and how they recommend it.
- Two key reasons for a structured system:
- Patient Safety – Preventing harm and reducing risks associated with digital health solutions.
- Governance & Risk Management – Ensuring accountability in healthcare recommendations.
2. Understanding Patient Safety in Digital Health
WHO Definition of Patient Safety:
“The absence of preventable harm to a patient during the process of health care and the reduction of the risk of unnecessary harm associated with health care to an acceptable minimum.”
Key Takeaways:
- Minimizing unnecessary harm is crucial when recommending any healthcare intervention, including digital tools.
- A structured process is the only way to ensure patient safety in digital health.
3. The Drug Prescription Model: A Framework for Safe Digital Health Recommendations
Liz compares the established process of drug prescriptions to highlight why digital health technologies also need structured oversight.
Steps in the Traditional Drug Prescription Process
- Patient Consultation – A healthcare professional assesses the patient’s symptoms & needs.
- Reference to a National Formulary – A trusted repository (e.g., British National Formulary in the UK) ensures only clinically validated drugs are prescribed.
- Issuing a Prescription – Using e-prescriptions or paper prescriptions, professionals ensure patients receive the correct medication.
- Dispensing by a Pharmacist – The pharmacist provides guidance & support on how to use the drug safely.
- Ongoing Monitoring & Safety Alerts – Regulators like NICE can recall drugs if new risks emerge, ensuring continuous patient safety.
4. Why Digital Health Needs a Similar Approach
- National Repositories – Just as drug formularies exist, there must be a validated database of safe, clinically tested digital health tools.
- Formal Prescription Process – Without an official prescription, patients might access the wrong or ineffective tools.
- Guidance & Monitoring – Patients need support & follow-up when using digital health apps or tools, just as they do with medication.
- Risk Management & Updates – Ongoing evaluations should ensure digital tools remain safe and effective over time.
5. Conclusion: Preparing for the Next Module
- The comparison between drug prescriptions and digital health prescriptions illustrates why healthcare providers need a structured approach to recommending digital health tools.
- The next module will explore how digital health technologies can be prescribed or recommended within a safe, effective, and regulated framework.
📌 Key Takeaway: A structured system for recommending digital health technologies is critical to ensuring patient safety and reducing risks, just as it is in pharmaceutical prescribing.