Personal digital health hubs for multiple conditions

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Multimorbidity, the presence of multiple chronic conditions, is influenced by complex biopsychosocial factors.
• Current treatment models often focus on physical damage, necessitating a shift towards integrated, person-centered care.
• Patient agency is crucial for effective management of multimorbidity and evolving healthcare practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the concept and early implementation of a web-based personal digital health hub for integrated patient care.
• To explore the potential of digital health hubs in empowering patients and carers.
• To outline a vision for future healthcare centered on co-created digital hubs.

Main Methods:

• Reflection on learning experiences from a community of interdisciplinary health practitioners.
• Collaboration between patient, health, and education communities.
• Implementation of a health hub for a cohort of patients with hip fractures.

Main Results:

• Early experiences with a digital health hub for hip fracture patients demonstrated potential for enhanced patient and carer engagement.
• The health hub concept facilitates the collection of patient-reported health data for research and improvement.
• Co-creation of digital health hubs can lead to advances in workforce practice, education, and self-care.

Conclusions:

• Digital health hubs represent a promising model for integrated patient care, emphasizing patient agency.
• Empowering patients and carers through digital tools can improve self-management of multimorbidity.
• Future healthcare can be optimized through co-designed digital health hubs tailored to patient and carer needs.