We all need to learn more about Digital Health to help make the decisions coming fast - here is a learning program

[Alies Maybee]

We are undergoing a sea change in healthcare as it finally catches up with the rest of the world and embraces technology more fully. Since COVID, virtual care has taken off and will remain an option even as we regain the option to have in-person visits with our providers. And then there is Artificial Intelligence (AI) - how will it affect us? What about bias in the algorithms? And remote patient monitoring (RPM)? And single sign on to all our information - security and privacy implications? And....and....and...

Decisions will be made about all of this --- with or without us. If it is to be with us, we need to be prepared to engage in the discussions. We need to arm ourselves with some baseline knowledge. Canada Health Infoway recognizes this and has developed a Digital Health Learning Program (https://www.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/patients-families-caregivers/digital-health-learning-program).

I have not yet done these so would appreciate comments about how good -- or not -- these programs are. Also, are there other aspects of digital health we should become familiar with? Thanks.