Innovating health and social care
In the complex landscape of health and social care, numerous terms such as Telehealth, Telemedicine, and Telecare are frequently employed to describe the integration of technology in healthcare services.
Our definition
Building on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) definition of digital health, DHI defines digital health and social care as the field(s) of knowledge and practice associated with the development and use of digital technologies to improve both individual and population health and wellbeing, and to improve health and social care delivery.
Digital health and care solutions include digital and data infrastructures, wearable and mobile devices and monitors, digital health and care systems, telehealth and telecare solutions, telemedicine, personalised care, data analytics, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and theInternet of Things (IoT).
Digitising social care
"Digitising” is a better-known term than “digitalising”.
"Digitising social care" refers to converting information into a digital format (e.g. converting a piece of paper into a PDF).
"Digitalising social care" involves using digital technologies to enhance, streamline, and improve social care services. This includes implementing electronic health records, digital care plans, remote monitoring, telehealth, mobile apps for caregivers and patients, and other digital tools to increase efficiency, accessibility, and quality of care provided to individuals in need of social services.
The aim is to make social care more responsive, personalised, and integrated with healthcare systems.
By leveraging insights from these innovations, the DHI aims to facilitate the transformation of health and care services. This includes improving access to services, minimising healthcare costs, enhancing the quality of care, and offering personalised healthcare solutions.
Our approach underscores the importance of integrating technology in healthcare to achieve a more efficient, effective, and patient-centred system.
Pioneering Digital Transformation in Health and Social Care
DHI supports the digital transformation of health and social care services to promote healthy lives and wellbeing for the citizens of Scotland. As an international thought leader in the digital health and social care research and innovation space (R&I), DHI:
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Supports the health and social care industry to create digitally enabled, person-centred solutions, and reimagine new business models to take them to market.
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Assists health and social care services to transform, and to develop new evidence-based service models which enable partners to get ready for adoption of digital solutions at scale.
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Prepares the current and future workforce and service users to operate confidently in the digital environment.
Engaging with citizens, and through collaboration with government, academia, industry, and frontline services, DHI fosters innovation that is sustainable, scalable, and transformative - ensuring all partners can derive benefit from new and emergent technologies and Scotland remains at the forefront of digital health and social care globally.