1.5 CME

Digital Health Literacy: The New Clinical Competency

Speaker: Prof. Supten Sarbadhikari

Chief Medical Information Officer, HlthTek, Kolkata

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Description

The New Clinical Competency emphasizes the growing need for healthcare professionals to navigate, evaluate, and utilize digital tools effectively in patient care. As telemedicine, health apps, and online health resources become increasingly common, clinicians must guide patients through trustworthy digital platforms and interpret data responsibly. This competency is not just about technology use—it’s about empowering patients to make informed decisions in a digital-first world. Enhancing digital health literacy also bridges health equity gaps and supports more personalized, accessible care delivery.

Summary Listen

  • Digital health literacy is crucial for healthcare professionals to navigate and utilize digital tools effectively for patient care, including telemedicine, mobile health apps, and online resources. It empowers patients to make informed decisions in a digital world and addresses health equity gaps.
  • Data literacy involves the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and critically apply data. Health data literacy is the application of these skills in the healthcare context, essential in an increasingly digital environment.
  • Healthcare is evolving through stages, with Healthcare 4.0 emphasizing smart and connected care, personalized medicine, and artificial intelligence. The World Health Organization has recognized the importance of digital health by forming a division focused on this area and publishing a global strategy.
  • Medical regulators acknowledge the importance of health data literacy, tasking medical graduates with collecting, analyzing, synthesizing, and communicating health data. National commissions are being formed to support health information management and informatics professionals.
  • Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) aid in various areas of care, including preventive care, diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up management. They also assist with hospital administration, provider efficiency, and improving patient convenience.
  • Personalized or precision medicine uses an individual's genetic profile to guide decisions in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Artificial intelligence plays a significant role in developing medical products, diagnostics, and preventive measures.
  • Challenges and opportunities exist in investing in digital literacy programs, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in digital tools, prioritizing privacy and data security, and fostering a culture of digital innovation and collaboration.
  • Ethical guidelines are necessary for the application of artificial intelligence in biomedical research and healthcare, emphasizing responsible innovation, security, and a favorable benefit-risk ratio.
  • Biases in AI models can lead to misdiagnosis, especially in minority groups, highlighting the importance of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to increase trust and accountability.
  • Collaboration between healthcare experts and digital experts is crucial for optimal outcomes, and healthcare professionals who utilize artificial intelligence will likely be more successful than those who do not.

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