Digital health is transforming healthcare delivery by integrating advanced information technologies to improve outcomes, patient engagement, and system efficiency.
Systems with secure data frameworks such as blockchain, enabled devices for remote patient monitoring (RPM), and additive manufacturing (3D printing) creates a resilient, personalised, and patient-centred care model that reduces cost and increases access.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Access deeper industry intelligence
Experience unmatched clarity with a single platform that combines unique data, AI, and human expertise.
Interoperable EMR systems are the backbone of this healthcare model. When EMRs reliably capture and share structured clinical data across providers, they enable continuity of care, more accurate decision-making, and powerful analytics. However, data integrity and privacy remain persistent challenges, as fragmented records and incompatible systems lead to information loss and workflow friction. Integrating EMRs with cryptographically verifiable ledgers such as blockchain can help. Blockchain does not replace EMRs but provides an immutable audit trail of access and transactions, strengthening consent management and device provenance. Early pilots tying EMR entries and medical device logs to private or permissioned blockchains have demonstrated improved traceability for implantable devices and closed-loop clinical trials, though scalability and regulatory alignment are still evolving.
Remote patient monitoring amplifies the value of connected records by bringing continuous data into clinical workflows. Wearables and home sensors can stream blood pressure, glucose, oxygen saturation, and heart rhythm directly into EMRs or secure repositories, enabling proactive interventions and reducing hospital readmissions. Ensuring data quality and privacy is crucial; here again, secure architectures and standardised application programming interfaces (APIs) are enabling providers to ingest RPM data meaningfully without overwhelming clinicians.
3D printing adds a complementary dimension by enabling rapid, customised medical devices and models informed by digital records and device registries. Patient-specific prosthetics, surgical guides, and anatomical models derived from imaging studies improve surgical planning and outcomes while lowering manufacturing lead times and costs. When 3D printing workflows are linked to verified supply-chain data—potentially anchored by blockchain—clinicians can verify material provenance and device certification, mitigating safety risks. Regulatory frameworks are adapting to cover decentralized manufacturing and point-of-care production.
Taken together, these technologies point to a future in which interoperable EMRs, secure data infrastructures, pervasive remote monitoring, and on-demand manufacturing converge to deliver safer, more personalised, and more efficient care. Digital health is vital for modernising healthcare, enhancing patient experiences, and improving outcomes through innovative technologies and personalised care approaches. However, addressing challenges such as cybersecurity, regulations, and equitable access is essential for maximizing its potential.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData
