In the current era, where ‘hands-on care’ is becoming increasingly scarce – and technology and digitalization play a growing role in our daily lives – it is unthinkable and unsustainable not to approach health and care from a digital perspective as well. The Integral Care Agreement (IZA)1 contains an extensive chapter on digital care, which expresses a vision and expectation for accessible care. The Healthy and Active Life Agreement (GALA)2, on the other hand, hardly mentions the possibilities and potential of digitalization and falls short in that regard.
Municipalities and Public Health Services, health insurers, and the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport (VWS) are working together in the GALA agreement to promote a healthy and active life with a solid social foundation. The agreement includes a chapter on monitoring but lacks a broad perspective on digital care and e-health. This is a missed opportunity, as there is also a large and so far largely untapped potential for e-health in achieving a healthy and active life. To successfully innovate, it is crucial to further explore this path.
Public Health Challenges
The Netherlands faces significant and urgent problems in public health. Aging, increasing chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and growing health disparities between different socioeconomic groups are just a few of the challenges here.
These challenges have led to the emergence of the GALA after a little impactful National Prevention Agreement (NPA)3. The GALA goes beyond the NPA by establishing a broad approach in line with Health in All Policies4. The goal of the GALA, after all, is ‘a healthy generation’ by 2040, where resilient, healthy people can grow up, live, work, and reside in a healthy living environment with a strong social foundation.
To effectively address collective problems, we must look closely at the possibilities of digital tools and e-health. If well set up and tailored to the actual needs of the population, e-health can contribute efficiently to enhancing health and vitality in society.
By means of technology that aligns with the needs and capabilities of the target groups, it is expected that prevention can be strengthened, and tailored vitality can be realized. Both individual health and public health can benefit from the right care at the right place, with technological innovations and tools. We describe how this could be addressed in the familiar terminology of healthcare. We use three themes: diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring.
Diagnosis
The first theme concerns diagnosis at the population level, determining where things go wrong in terms of health and vitality. There are already many good public sources available that provide a foundation for this. Platforms like Waarstaatjegemeente.nl and the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) provide valuable data at the municipal level.
In addition, regional profiles offer a detailed overview of the health status in different regions and neighborhoods. The CBS provides the opportunity to monitor broad well-being5 at a regional level. This data can be used to determine where health disparities are most pronounced and in which lifestyle domains there is room for improvement. For example, if data indicates that a particular neighborhood has a high prevalence of diabetes, it can be examined whether specifically focusing on preventive measures and targeted care could provide an appropriate approach.
Moreover, ‘big data analytics’ can be employed to develop diagnostic and predictive models. Patterns and correlations between demographic, social, and economic factors, which are not easily observed through standard analyses, will be discovered and subsequently contribute to further refining preventive strategies. This way, we could work more strategically and effectively on public health.
Treatment
The second theme concerns the intervention or treatment. As the workforce and expertise become increasingly scarce, digital care can contribute to promoting individual health and public health and vitality in general. It is essential to establish in advance whether the intervention aligns with the experience, capabilities, and needs of the individual or community.
There are plenty of examples of how this can be successfully implemented in practice. For instance, there are platforms that contribute to greater social cohesion in the neighborhood, which indirectly benefits the health and vitality of residents. An example is the use of neighborhood apps where residents can communicate and help and support each other.
Healthy Choices
Some individuals who need it – and who possess adequate health and digital skills – can actively work on their vitality, lifestyle, and health through wearables and lifestyle apps. Lifestyle apps can help set goals and track progress. Moreover, platforms provide personalized advice and sometimes rewards, keeping users motivated to make healthy choices.
However, for many people, the solution does not lie in such innovations. They certainly value their health, but other challenges and issues in life require more attention and energy.
Opportunities and Leverage Points
From the ‘diagnosis’ and analyses, certain clusters and patterns of correlated demographic, social, and economic factors will emerge where the opportunities and leverage points lie. The major task will be to develop tools and apps together with the target group that meet their needs. This may include contacts with neighbors, signaling local activities and meetings, compiling a shopping list and recipes, or reminders and appointments with municipal authorities and the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).
This type of broad tools does not yet exist. Once the possibilities and convenience are recognized, actual lifestyle and health parameters could potentially be integrated. Thus, digital life assistance and coaching tools could become an asset in the future, indirectly contributing significantly to public health.
Monitoring
It is essential to know whether the measures and interventions implemented have the desired effect and are efficient. This can be achieved through data-driven work. The same data available for diagnostics also form the basis for monitoring tools that can establish the progress and development of health.
By tracking trends and linking them to interventions and societal changes, these can be evaluated and adjusted if necessary. Here, the approach deviates from the typical medical approach, where scientifically substantiated guidelines and protocols provide direction, in consultation with the patient. Interventions in the field of prevention and public health are typically complex, time-dependent, and trend-dependent and must therefore be flexible and reactive.
Optimal Response and Advice
It is precisely the digital world that allows for continuous building and improvement. Artificial intelligence/algorithms will be adaptive and, based on monitoring and subsequent adjustments, will increasingly generate optimal responses and advice, while simultaneously providing interim reports.
The GALA monitor has now been established. This monitor looks at the progress of the common goals of the GALA and the necessary domain-crossing collaboration at the local and regional level. This is important but has little to do with digital solutions at this stage. However, the monitor pays special attention to reducing health disparities. Thus, the GALA monitor sets a high standard for developing and implementing digital tools and apps that will contribute to this.
Conclusion
Digital care and e-health currently play a limited role. This can become a crucial role in the future in promoting health and vitality, both at the individual and community level. By using predictive models, digital treatment platforms, and effective monitoring tools, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of the population.
It is of great importance that digital care also receives priority in the fields of health and social domain. Only then can we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and active life in an increasingly digital world. We therefore advocate that digital care and e-health will occupy a prominent place in future health policy.
The Future of Digital Health: Trends and Innovations
As the demand for healthcare continues to rise amid an aging population and increasing chronic diseases, the integration of technology into healthcare represents a pivotal shift. The potential of digital health and e-health solutions can no longer be overlooked. Increasingly, we can anticipate rapid advancements in several key areas, reshaping how healthcare is delivered and experienced.
Transformative Diagnostics
Expect big data analytics to revolutionize health diagnostics. By leveraging public data platforms like the Netherlands’ CBS and community health databases, healthcare professionals can pinpoint specific health concerns at a population level. Upcoming predictive models will utilize demographic and lifestyle data to not only identify health disparities but also tailor prevention strategies directly to prevalent community issues.
Innovative Treatment Options
With a notable shortage of healthcare professionals, digital solutions will facilitate personalized treatments. Platforms that foster social connections and support, such as neighborhood apps, will become commonplace, leading to enhanced community health. More importantly, wearable technology and lifestyle apps will empower individuals to monitor and improve their health actively, providing immediate feedback and encouragement for healthier choices.
Empowering Healthy Choices
The growing reliance on digital tools will open up channels for creating personalized wellness plans that resonate with individual users. With health apps becoming more sophisticated, we can anticipate features that recommend dietary adjustments, local activities, and social engagements, directly addressing the specific needs of users. Although not everyone may be inclined to engage with digital solutions, those who are will find ample resources to assist in managing their health actively.
Effective Monitoring and Response
One of the significant trends emerging in digital health is the ability to use real-time monitoring technologies to evaluate the effectiveness of health interventions. Analysis of data from monitoring tools will allow for timely adjustments to health strategies, ensuring that they remain relevant to changing community needs. The incorporation of artificial intelligence will facilitate adaptive algorithms that provide personalized feedback and strategic recommendations based on individual data profiles.
Rethinking Public Health Policies
As e-health continues to evolve, it will be crucial for health policies to prioritize digital health solutions. Collaborations between public health entities and technology firms will drive the development of tools that bridge gaps in health access and reduce disparities. Communicating the benefits of these digital solutions emphasizes their role in creating a healthier, more vibrant society.