19 DECEMBER - 2022Digital Health ScienceDigital health, by definition, is a discipline that utilizes technologies and digital care programs within healthcare to enhance our understanding of the health conditions and challenges faced by patients and caregivers during their journey navigating through any healthcare system (1). Digital healthcare has been gaining momentum over the past decade but was recently catapulted to the forefront of global attention during the pandemic. For all the right reasons - there is no point of return! The growth observed was considered faster than any movements and processes acknowledged in this domain's entire history of healthcare. Digitization not only improves access to healthcare but also positively impacts quality of provided care, care delivery efficiencies, convenience levels, and facilitates patient-tailored care resulting in improved patient satisfaction, and outcomes. Its multi domain effectiveness has resulted in rapid advancements in the digital health ecosystem over the past decade, along with an explosion in the number of emerging digital health companies further compounded by investments from multiple streams including ­ both public and private investors (2).Alternative Payment ModelsAlternative Payment Models are another revolutionizing process unfolding in the healthcare arena with the potential to significantly alter the internal landscape and core fabric of payment methodology in the US healthcare system. The current fee-for-service model has been the primary payment methodology employed thus far, although as reflected in rising healthcare costs and subpar performance in patient outcomes and satisfaction, undoubtedly ineffective. Within this payment model, emphasis is placed on the volume of provided care rather than value impacting adversely on patient satisfaction and outcome scores while promoting clinical practices and behaviors to augment provider incomes.CXO INSIGHTSDigital Health Science and Alternative Payment ModelsBy Bhawna Jha, MD, MRCP (Medical Director, UAMS) , , Anya Choudhary (Pulaski Academy)The recent OECD* Health Statistics 2022 report was released on July 5th, 2022, as depicted below. The OECD database offers the most comprehensive comparison of health and health systems across OECD countries facilitating insights and dialogue across different countries and healthcare systems. While making such comparisons, it is prudent to acknowledge the differences in individual healthcare systems (infrastructure, stakeholders, societal expectations, etc.) and therefore innovative, successful Bhawna Jha
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