A consortium of 14 influential healthcare and consumer trade associations has united to form the Digital Health Collaborative, aimed at accelerating digital health research and adoption. Backed by the Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI), the collaborative endeavors to promote evidence-based practices and awareness among providers, purchasers, and end-users. Through initiatives like national surveys, grant-making, and partnerships with industry leaders, the collaborative seeks to revolutionize the landscape of digital healthcare. By fostering collaboration and innovation, this initiative holds the potential to reshape healthcare delivery, ensuring safer, more efficient, and accessible digital health solutions for all.
The emergence of digital health technologies has ushered in a new era of healthcare innovation, promising to revolutionize patient care and outcomes. Recognizing the transformative potential of these technologies, a coalition of 14 leading healthcare and consumer trade associations has come together to establish the Digital Health Collaborative. With a shared commitment to advancing evidence-based research and fostering widespread adoption of digital health solutions, this collaborative initiative represents a pivotal step towards realizing the full potential of digital healthcare. Supported by the Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI), the collaborative aims to drive meaningful change in healthcare delivery by leveraging the collective expertise and resources of its members.
Advancing Digital Health: Collaborative Initiatives Propel Innovation
The emergence of the Digital Health Collaborative marks a pivotal moment in the realm of healthcare innovation. Comprised of influential entities such as the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), American Medical Association (AMA), AARP, AHIP, the Consumer Technology Association, the Digital Medicine Society, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and the Digital Therapeutics Alliance, among others, this coalition represents a diverse spectrum of stakeholders committed to driving the advancement of digital health technologies.
At its core, the Digital Health Collaborative is poised to catalyze evidence-based research initiatives and programs aimed at fostering widespread awareness and confidence in embracing digital health innovations. By fostering collaboration among provider groups, purchasers, and end users, the collaborative endeavors spearhead groundbreaking research endeavors and facilitate knowledge exchange through various platforms, including convenings and annual summits.
Integral to the success of the Digital Health Collaborative is the backing of the Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI), an entity operating under the auspices of the Peterson Center on Healthcare. Tasked with the pivotal role of evaluating the clinical efficacy and financial viability of digital health tools, PHTI plays a crucial role in empowering payers, providers, and employers to make informed decisions regarding the adoption of digital health solutions.
Meg Barron, the Managing Director of Engagement and Outreach at PHTI, expressed the collaborative’s overarching mission, stating, “The Digital Health Collaborative is raising the bar for guidance, research, and resources that can accelerate the adoption of solutions that work and are worth it.” Barron highlighted various initiatives spearheaded by the collaborative, ranging from pioneering surveys on digital health purchasing trends to providing grants that bolster evidence-based efforts, underscoring the collaborative’s commitment to propelling the industry forward during this critical juncture.
Among the inaugural endeavors of the Digital Health Collaborative is the execution of a comprehensive national purchaser survey and the initiation of grantmaking activities. Supported by PHTI, the collaborative has established a Research and Impact Fund aimed at financing aligned research endeavors and programs geared towards advancing digital health adoption.
Furthermore, the Digital Health Collaborative has allocated its first grant from the Research and Impact Fund to the Digital Medicine Society for its groundbreaking project titled “Integrated Evidence Plans for Digital Health Products.” This pioneering initiative seeks to delineate the fundamental components of a comprehensive evidence plan aimed at streamlining the process of evidence collection for technology decision-makers while aiding digital health developers in aligning their products with evidence-based requirements.
In tandem with the collaborative’s endeavors, industry associations have taken proactive measures to establish guidelines ensuring the safe and efficacious utilization of digital health tools. Noteworthy examples include the ATA’s formulation of Health Data Privacy Principles, designed to safeguard patient data during telehealth utilization, and the publication of principles by the Collaborative for Telehealth and Aging, aimed at ensuring safe and effective remote care for seniors.
Recognizing the imperative of collaborative efforts in facilitating seamless digital health integration, health systems have also begun to forge strategic partnerships. Notably, Northwell Health and Aegis Ventures joined forces to launch the Caire Collaborative in 2023. This pioneering initiative seeks to cultivate hybrid models of care supported by virtual care solutions, with a consortium of health systems serving as investors, early adopters, and clinical partners.
Dr. John Noseworthy, Emeritus President and CEO of Mayo Clinic and current Executive Chairman of Caire emphasized the transformative potential of collaborative models in revolutionizing healthcare delivery. He remarked, “Caire is highlighting and cultivating a new healthcare model through collaboration. Health systems are uniquely positioned to identify unmet needs, design effective solutions, and deliver care. There is nothing more powerful in the market today.”
Overall, the formation of the Digital Health Collaborative signals a significant milestone in the journey towards driving digital health adoption and innovation. Through collaborative research endeavors, strategic partnerships, and targeted initiatives, the collaborative holds the promise of catalyzing transformative change in healthcare delivery. By promoting evidence-based practices and fostering awareness among stakeholders, the collaborative seeks to ensure the safe, efficient, and equitable adoption of digital health technologies. As we navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare, initiatives like the Digital Health Collaborative will play a crucial role in shaping the future of digital healthcare, ultimately improving patient outcomes and enhancing the delivery of care for generations to come.
