Digital Innovation
WHO releases first guideline on digital health interventions
The key aim of this guideline is to present recommendations based on a critical evaluation of the evidence on emerging digital health interventions that are contributing to health system improvements, based on an assessment of the benefits, harms, acceptability, feasibility, resource use and equity considerations.
This guideline urges readers to recognize that digital health interventions are not a substitute for functioning health systems, and that there are significant limitations to what digital health is able to address.
Digital change in health and Social Care
The use of digital technology in health and social care can improve quality, efficiency and patient experience as well as supporting more integrated care and improving the health of a population. This Kings Fund report shares practical learning from a series of case studies where significant large-scale digital change is happening.
Scottish Digital Health & Care Strategy
"This strategy is bold, ambitious and enterprising and presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to creaste a digital and interoperable health and social care system, supporting improvement in the safety, effectiveness, efficiency and citizen-centred nature of the service we offer. "
The full strategy is available here.
Technology and Innovation in NHS Scotland
In February 2018 the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee published a report on the use of technology in NHS Scotland.
The Committee heard evidence from a wide range of witnesses, including industry associations, health care organisations, educational institutions, NHS Boards and technology leaders, seeking views on the successes and failures of existing telecare and telehealth strategies, as well as future opportunities for new technologies.
Despite the Scottish Government’s s ambition to position Scotland as a digital health care leader, much of the evidence in the report points to a system which is unable to take advantage of existing technologies, and struggles to innovate and implement at scale.
The full report is availabily on Scottish Parliament’s website.
mPower Project
mPower is five-year project supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It will create a cross-border service for older people (age 65+) living with long-term conditions across Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
From late 2017 to December 2021, mPower will work with communities to enable people to take the steps needed to live well, safely and independently in their own homes by self-managing their own health and care in the community.
Community Navigators will be employed to work with people referred from health and care services to develop wellbeing plans connecting them to activities in their community as well connecting them to technology to enhance support for health and wellbeing.
University of the Highlands and Islands is evaluating the project.
Full details on the project can be found on the mPower website.
Digital Participation Charter
Scotland's Digital Participation Charter is run by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations with support from the Scottish Government.
The Charter
When you sing Scotland's Digital Participation Charter, we ask you to commit to five pledges - allowing Scotland to work together and skill up our digital nation.
1) Skill Up - we ensure that our staff & Volunteers have the opportunity to development essential digital skills
2) support staff - e support our staff & volunteers to help others learn essential digital skills and embrace digital tools
3) support Scotland - support out nation by contributing resources and practical support for Scotland in whatever ways we can
4) The Essentials - We support a common language based on digital participation and essential digital skills to make our thinking and actions as clear as possible
5) Come together - we channel our effort through the Digital Participation programme so that our activities are coordinated and build on each other.
Sign up here.