Today’s world orbits around a technological center. We buy our groceries online, interview for jobs via video chat, and learn language behind a screen. Even before COVID-19, our world was slowly but surely uploading to an online base. With all the ways we now “live online” it’s no surprise that the healthcare system is transitioning too.
So, what is digital health?
Digital health merges technology with aspects of health, healthcare, and living to modernize and revolutionize the ways in which we take care of ourselves.
It’s clear that our healthcare system already relies on technology in many ways. In an everyday sense, the rise in popularity of wearing a fitness tracker has increased health awareness in terms of sleep and heart rate. These indicators allow us to, in a way, self-diagnose an issue that may have otherwise taken weeks to manifest. As a patient, we have gained innovative ways to make and track appointments all from the comfort of our homes.
In addition to the “casual” tech that the everyday person has access to, the advances in complex technologies have opened up a new realm of treatment never before thought possible. Smart inhalers with Bluetooth capability, 3D printing for artificial organs, and robotic surgery may seem like a thing of the future, when in fact they are being implemented in patients today. As our world progresses, so has our tech, forcing the healthcare industry to either keep up or get lost in a sea of innovation.
Digital health offers a contemporary adaptation of an age-old medical practice. Not only is it cost-efficient, but the convenience for both patients and doctors is unmatched. Doctors are able to see many more patients than previously possible, and patients still receive grade A medical care. While some may argue that we lose personal connections with our medical providers, the safety gained by telehealth in the time of a global pandemic clearly outweighs any doubt. In a world of 6-ft seclusion, we hold the moral responsibility to bring mindfulness to every action we take. Any task deemed non-essential is now done remotely, and while the medical field is surely essential, there are aspects that can be transitioned to telehealth.
Speech therapy as a digital treatment
Speech therapy is a prime example of an industry that has recently shifted to digital delivery. Through telehealth, speech therapists are able to offer the same support via video as they were in person. Together therapists’ all over the world are partnering with technology to ensure the progression of their client’s success.
While teletherapy is an adaptation for most people, Speechagain is based on the ideals of accessibility and innovation. Our already online program offers an affordable and safe option for people who stutter. Like many healthcare providers, Speechagain sees the potential in the evolution of the partnership of digitized care. We will continue to provide cutting-edge technology to improve the lives of people who stutter all over the world.