2.0 Digital health for patients and the public
Framework structurePrimary domain 2, digital health for patients and the public, is shown in this section.
Digital Health is the convergence of health and social care with digital technologies to provide and improve healthcare provision and efficiency. This covers a range of technologies and tools including mobile apps, wearable technologies and telehealth. These technologies can be used for patient communication and monitoring as well as direct delivery of care and interventions.
Capability statement - I am aware of a variety of digital NHS resources available that are relevant to my role or my team (for example, apps/websites) and can give guidance to patients to access and use them appropriately and provide support (for example, with care and/or increasing knowledge about their health).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I am able to identify and find alternative solutions to maintaining emergency care where digital systems fail or are identified as failing.
Archetypes:
- Driver
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am proficient at recording and accessing clinical observations accurately and securely in an electronic record system for clinical/health care.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can recognise situations where patients encounter “digital exclusion” and proactively ensure alternative access to care when identified.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can explain digital health information to patients to support them in making data-driven decisions about their health (for example, health risk scores/metrics [QRisk, Patient Reported Outcome Measures]).
Archetypes:
- Creator
- User
Capability statement - I respect patients’ preferences around the use of digital technology and empower and support them to make informed choices about technology used in their care.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I can evaluate and recognise the pros and cons of automated systems (for example, triage, symptom checkers) used in the NHS and can help signpost to inform and guide patients and users when access to such systems is appropriate to their care.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
Capability statement - I can confidently explain to patients what AI systems in my specialism/area of practice are doing in a broad sense and can tailor my explanation accordingly with awareness that patients have different levels of digital literacy.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can initiate conversations with patients to improve their understanding of data collection, use and data security.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can clearly explain to patients how their data will be collected, stored and safeguarded by systems recommended for their care/research and their respective rights.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can critically appraise resources aimed at improving digital literacy for health and support members of the public to find and assess appropriate data or health information.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I actively promote digital inclusion and can help patients improve their digital literacy by signposting them to appropriate resources to assist them with technology we intend them to interact with.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can recommend digital resources through policies and guidelines to patients and the public for various health conditions based on the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (for example, apps through the NHS website).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I can provide training and education to health care professionals that train patients and the public to improve their digital literacy skills using formalised pedagogical approaches (for example, using techniques such as ‘teach-back’ and ‘chunk and check’).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
Capability statement - I am aware of a variety of digital NHS resources available that are relevant to my role or my team (for example, apps/websites) and can give guidance to patients to access and use them appropriately and provide support (for example, with care and/or increasing knowledge about their health).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I am able to identify and find alternative solutions to maintaining emergency care where digital systems fail or are identified as failing.
Archetypes:
- Driver
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am proficient at recording and accessing clinical observations accurately and securely in an electronic record system for clinical/health care.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can recognise situations where patients encounter “digital exclusion” and proactively ensure alternative access to care when identified.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can explain digital health information to patients to support them in making data-driven decisions about their health (for example, health risk scores/metrics [QRisk, Patient Reported Outcome Measures]).
Archetypes:
- Creator
- User
Capability statement - I respect patients’ preferences around the use of digital technology and empower and support them to make informed choices about technology used in their care.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I can evaluate and recognise the pros and cons of automated systems (for example, triage, symptom checkers) used in the NHS and can help signpost to inform and guide patients and users when access to such systems is appropriate to their care.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
Capability statement - I can confidently explain to patients what AI systems in my specialism/area of practice are doing in a broad sense and can tailor my explanation accordingly with awareness that patients have different levels of digital literacy.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can initiate conversations with patients to improve their understanding of data collection, use and data security.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can clearly explain to patients how their data will be collected, stored and safeguarded by systems recommended for their care/research and their respective rights.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can critically appraise resources aimed at improving digital literacy for health and support members of the public to find and assess appropriate data or health information.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I actively promote digital inclusion and can help patients improve their digital literacy by signposting them to appropriate resources to assist them with technology we intend them to interact with.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can recommend digital resources through policies and guidelines to patients and the public for various health conditions based on the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (for example, apps through the NHS website).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I can provide training and education to health care professionals that train patients and the public to improve their digital literacy skills using formalised pedagogical approaches (for example, using techniques such as ‘teach-back’ and ‘chunk and check’).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
2.1 Providing direct care with digital technologies
The evolution of healthcare towards a more digitally integrated system brings with it both benefits and challenges. Some patients are avid users of technology and want to be able to engage with a modern health service with their existing devices, some preferring electronic communication for convenience. In contrast other patients will require a lot of help and support to bridge the ‘digital divide’. The healthcare system needs to strive to increase support and trust in new ways of interacting with patients and the public through digital means.
Capability statement - I am aware that a variety of sensor devices are available to the general public and that these devices are not necessarily approved for clinical purposes and that as such the quality of the data collected may not be of sufficient quality/reliability for use in remote patient monitoring and care based decision making.
Archetypes:
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I can work in adapted clinical environments integrated with digital technology safely and effectively (for example, digitally integrated operating room, virtual wards).
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I am technically proficient in the use of common computational devices (for example, smartphones, tablets, desktop and laptop computers) to facilitate clinical interactions and view/edit records using software relevant to my discipline (for example, health information systems).
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I am aware of and can define digital/eHealth and related sub-categories (for example, uHealth, mHealth and Telehealth/medicine).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am aware of and can describe Extended Reality (XR) and its sub domains (for example, virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can define the term ‘digital twin’ (a digital representation of a real world object, service or process) and can give examples of their use in healthcare (for example, bed/ hospital management).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am able to customize and configure eHealth solutions for use in clinical practice and can troubleshoot common issues arising from such solutions.
Archetypes:
- Driver
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I create opportunities to engage patients and the public in the design of digital solutions that reflect their needs and priorities (for example, co-design, user centred design principles with patient groups).
Archetypes:
- Driver
- Creator
Capability statement - When applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) processes to direct patient care, I am able to second-check decisions made by automated processes to ensure they meet the required standards of safety and quality and know how and where to report concerns if they fail to meet these standards.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am aware that a variety of sensor devices are available to the general public and that these devices are not necessarily approved for clinical purposes and that as such the quality of the data collected may not be of sufficient quality/reliability for use in remote patient monitoring and care based decision making.
Archetypes:
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I can work in adapted clinical environments integrated with digital technology safely and effectively (for example, digitally integrated operating room, virtual wards).
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I am technically proficient in the use of common computational devices (for example, smartphones, tablets, desktop and laptop computers) to facilitate clinical interactions and view/edit records using software relevant to my discipline (for example, health information systems).
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I am aware of and can define digital/eHealth and related sub-categories (for example, uHealth, mHealth and Telehealth/medicine).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am aware of and can describe Extended Reality (XR) and its sub domains (for example, virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can define the term ‘digital twin’ (a digital representation of a real world object, service or process) and can give examples of their use in healthcare (for example, bed/ hospital management).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am able to customize and configure eHealth solutions for use in clinical practice and can troubleshoot common issues arising from such solutions.
Archetypes:
- Driver
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I create opportunities to engage patients and the public in the design of digital solutions that reflect their needs and priorities (for example, co-design, user centred design principles with patient groups).
Archetypes:
- Driver
- Creator
Capability statement - When applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) processes to direct patient care, I am able to second-check decisions made by automated processes to ensure they meet the required standards of safety and quality and know how and where to report concerns if they fail to meet these standards.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Embedder
- User
2.2 Remote consultation and monitoring
Digital technologies offer the potential to provide remote consultation and monitoring of patients. This can be especially useful for rural settings and routine procedures. Remote monitoring can also free up resources and allow patients to remain in their own environments and/or live more independently whilst still receiving medical care and monitoring.
Capability statement - I recognise the benefits and risks of using different messaging platforms for patient communication and always abide by the recommendations of my organisation regard-ing preferred tools to achieve this safely and securely.
Archetypes:
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I recognise the role of remote patient monitoring for care (for example, post-surgical intervention) and how this can support monitoring and safety of patients at increased risk (for example, in remote/rural areas).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I always use workplace recommended systems to facilitate secure messaging and file transfer (for example, cryptographically secure tools).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can carry out patient consultations, facilitate secure real time audio/visual communication tools, interpret data collected with these tools and make decisions based on these data.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I am aware of the stages involved in remote care pathways from consultation through to remote monitoring and applying digital interventions in my speciality/area.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can advise members of the public on preparing for a consultation online and support a shared decision making discussion in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) shared decision making guide-lines.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I am confident in the use and troubleshooting of digital tools to facilitate secure real time audio/visual communication (for example, patient consultations, internal/external meetings with other healthcare providers and groups) and can adapt my consultation approach to remote consultations for the majority of my patients.
Archetypes:
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am aware of different digital remote monitoring options that are available to patients in my area/speciality (for example, mobile apps, implantable/wearable devices and home sensors) and can communicate the basic operation of these options to others.
Archetypes:
- Driver
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can provide user support to help patients setup remote monitoring technology and collect data through biosensors.
Archetypes:
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am able to use, interpret and critically appraise data provided by individual patients (for example, collected by commercial wearables) and use this to promote patient wellbeing, health and the prevention of disease.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can explain to patients and the public how wearables related to my area of practice work in terms of what data they collect, how the data is collected from the wearer and any available data sharing options.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can recommend (through accessing policies/guidelines) different remote monitoring options that are available to patients in my area/speciality (for example, mobile apps, implantable/wearable devices and home sensors).
Archetypes:
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I can interpret large quantities of remotely collected telemetry data with appropriate tools to monitor patients and use insights derived from this process for decision making in patient care.
Archetypes:
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I recognise the benefits and risks of using different messaging platforms for patient communication and always abide by the recommendations of my organisation regard-ing preferred tools to achieve this safely and securely.
Archetypes:
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I recognise the role of remote patient monitoring for care (for example, post-surgical intervention) and how this can support monitoring and safety of patients at increased risk (for example, in remote/rural areas).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I always use workplace recommended systems to facilitate secure messaging and file transfer (for example, cryptographically secure tools).
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can carry out patient consultations, facilitate secure real time audio/visual communication tools, interpret data collected with these tools and make decisions based on these data.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I am aware of the stages involved in remote care pathways from consultation through to remote monitoring and applying digital interventions in my speciality/area.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can advise members of the public on preparing for a consultation online and support a shared decision making discussion in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) shared decision making guide-lines.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I am confident in the use and troubleshooting of digital tools to facilitate secure real time audio/visual communication (for example, patient consultations, internal/external meetings with other healthcare providers and groups) and can adapt my consultation approach to remote consultations for the majority of my patients.
Archetypes:
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am aware of different digital remote monitoring options that are available to patients in my area/speciality (for example, mobile apps, implantable/wearable devices and home sensors) and can communicate the basic operation of these options to others.
Archetypes:
- Driver
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can provide user support to help patients setup remote monitoring technology and collect data through biosensors.
Archetypes:
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I am able to use, interpret and critically appraise data provided by individual patients (for example, collected by commercial wearables) and use this to promote patient wellbeing, health and the prevention of disease.
Archetypes:
- Shaper
- Driver
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Capability statement - I can explain to patients and the public how wearables related to my area of practice work in terms of what data they collect, how the data is collected from the wearer and any available data sharing options.
Archetypes:
- User
Capability statement - I can recommend (through accessing policies/guidelines) different remote monitoring options that are available to patients in my area/speciality (for example, mobile apps, implantable/wearable devices and home sensors).
Archetypes:
- Driver
- User
Capability statement - I can interpret large quantities of remotely collected telemetry data with appropriate tools to monitor patients and use insights derived from this process for decision making in patient care.
Archetypes:
- Creator
- Embedder
- User
Page last reviewed: 14 February 2023
Next review due: 20 February 2024