Using digital health to improve health outcomes and equity

COVID-19 pandemic fatigue has many people seeking a return to normalcy. But healthcare needs a new normal—one that achieves better health outcomes for more people. One avenue to better health results is expanding use of tools like telehealth and, more broadly, digital health, provided that their adoption focuses on improving health outcomes rather than simply enabling more appointments. Accordingly, the key question for the adoption of any of the many modalities comprising digital health is whether they will help patients achieve better health. Measuring the outcomes of digital health innovations will provide critical insight about when, how, and for whom it works best. Health care includes many different services, addressing a wide array of health issues, for people living in varied circumstances. Implementors need to ask if their digital health innovations are reducing, maintaining, or widening the economic and racial disparities that are endemic in the in-person care delivery system.

[Scott Wallace is an associate professor at Dell Medical School and McCombs School of Business at University of Texas, Austin, as well as Managing Director of the Value Institute for Health and Care. Amy Madore is Assistant Director of Research at the Value Institute. Elizabeth Teisberg is a professor at Dell Medical School and McCombs School of Business and Executive Director of the Value Institute.]