Digital contact instead human contact

Photo: John Schnobrich

Digital contact instead of human contact is something that has been up in the air for a while now. With the constant development of technologies and technological tools, humans are having much easier access to communication through various means of digital technologies. However, when it comes to health care providers, this question is always up for debate. In this article, we are going to take a look at digital contact instead of human contact in health care. Furthermore, we will pay close attention to some of the advantages and potential disadvantages of this digital system.

Digital health

Digital health is a term that covers a wide range of different categories. It includes electronic health and electronic health records or EHR, telehealth, mobile health apps, and so much more. The main advantage of digital health nowadays is the fact that it can help bring health care providers and their patients a faster, more efficient means of communication. In addition to this, digitalization of health care and overall digital contact means bringing health services directly to people’s homes and to underserved communities.

With digital health comes digital contact as well. This is where the main question arises which is can digital contact be used instead of human contact efficiently and effectively? Overall, even before the global pandemic of 2020, the world saw the benefits of digitalization and digital health were slowly but surely being used more and more. Now with the increased number of patients everywhere around the world due to the pandemic, digital contact and digital tools in health care are being utilized to the best of their abilities.

So, as the pandemic was only an accelerator that increased the digitalization of health care, what were some of the already established technologies used worldwide in health care? Right now, some of the things digital health encompasses are:

• Electronic Health Records(EHR)

• Mobile health apps

• AI in health care

• Telemedicine

• Personalized Medicine

• Integrated care delivery

• Platforms with services designed so that health providers can make more effective use of their offer

Digital contact in the healthcare

Healthcare is going through the process of constant development. Constant innovations and different approaches in the ways in which the health services are being distributed are important. When it comes to digital contact, we can also see a ton of new, innovative solutions. For starters, let us take a look at some of the main benefits of digital contact. We have mentioned already that the health care services providers can use it to reach patients in remote areas and each patient can reach their health care providers from the comfort of their homes. Digitalization allows for faster, instant contact between the patient and the doctor. Additionally, patients can be taken back on track with healthy habits easier with digital contact because it is more accessible. Lowered costs in general are an additional benefit of digital contact.

However, the main issue that many patients and doctors bring up is the communication itself. Can digital contact be used instead of human contact entirely and can the diagnosis for example be established as accurately. While some exams and diagnoses still need to be done in person in order to be performed and established accurately, digital contact has improved the efficiency in which health care providers can keep communication with their patients, set up their schedules, appointments, check-ups, and give information about the shifts, potential cancellations, and rescheduling better.

Digital contact with the patients can be an effective way of delivering information quickly and accurately. The constant development of digital means of communication and the different platforms available to the patients allow doctors and health care services providers to maintain constant touch with their patients.

The improvement of the patient's journey

While many assume that the patient's journey is only attached to the hospital for example and the visit to the designated doctor, there is a lot more to it than that. Health care service providers around the world are working hard to make sure that the patient's journey is enjoyable throughout its course. Digitalization and digital contact can help improve patients' journeys and build a more trusting and more trusting and long-lasting relationship between doctors and patients.

Digital vs Human - AI involvement

We have mentioned above that within the category of digital health, we also have the usage of proprietary AI technologies. AI can establish 24/7 contact with the patients and deliver various information in timely and effective ways. With the use of AI that is fully designed to focus on human interactions in the health care sphere, a greater and much faster way of communicating with the patients can be established. The benefits of using AI in health care to deliver information, set up appointments, check schedules, and so on, are quite big. AI can work 24/7, as mentioned before. Furthermore, it constantly learns and develops meaning that if there are some mistakes that are made at the beginning of each conversation cannot happen again. Additionally, AI can perform a personalized conversation and make the patient feel more comfortable.

In summary

Digital contact instead of human contact is something that has been, until recently, up for a great debate. However, as the huge benefits of digitalization were seen throughout the global pandemic of 2020, more and more health care services providers have worked towards establishing reliable digital tools and means of communication with the patients. In turn, the results of digital contact were the faster and more effective transfer of information, easier appointment scheduling, more personalized care, and, of course, a better patient journey.