The Role of Digital Navigators in Promoting Clinical Care and Technology Integration into Practice

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Technology
• Digital Health Implementation
• Health Informatics

Background:

• The increasing integration of technology in healthcare necessitates specialized support for implementation.
• Digital health tools and smartphone applications offer opportunities to enhance existing healthcare delivery models.
• Existing healthcare roles may not be adequately equipped to manage the complexities of digital health integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define the role of a digital navigator as a solution for technology implementation in clinics.
• To present a comprehensive 10-hour training curriculum for digital navigators.
• To provide a framework for training digital navigators across essential skill domains.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 10-hour training curriculum for digital navigators.
• Curriculum structured across five key domains: smartphone skills, technology troubleshooting, app evaluation, clinical terminology/data, and engagement techniques.
• Leveraging experience in role creation and health education to inform curriculum design.

Main Results:

• A structured 10-hour curriculum designed to train digital navigators has been developed.
• The curriculum covers core competencies essential for supporting digital health tools in clinical settings.
• Supplementary online resources, including step-by-step instructions, are available to support training.

Conclusions:

• The digital navigator role offers a scalable solution for integrating digital health technologies into clinical practice.
• The proposed curriculum provides a foundational training program for equipping individuals to become effective digital navigators.
• This initiative supports the expansion of digital health adoption by addressing the need for skilled personnel.