Unleashing the Potential for Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD)

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Patient-generated health data (PGHD) is increasingly collected via consumer technologies and remote monitoring.
• PGHD complements clinical encounter data, showing potential for improved chronic disease management and patient outcomes.
• Despite growth, challenges remain in effectively utilizing PGHD for high-quality, patient-centered care.

Discussion:

• Understanding how PGHD translates into actionable clinical information is crucial.
• Bridging the gap between data collection and its application in shared decision-making is essential for clinical adoption.
• Research is needed to explore the real-world utility of PGHD in informing clinical care.

Key Insights:

• Electronic PGHD is rapidly expanding due to health technologies.
• Effective integration of PGHD into clinical workflows is currently limited.
• A deeper understanding of PGHD's clinical value is required.

Outlook:

• Propose a research agenda focused on PGHD's clinical value within the Veterans Health Administration.
• Emphasize research into PGHD's potential and limitations for shared decision-making.
• Foster clinical adoption and patient engagement through evidence-based PGHD utilization.