Understanding the integration process for digital health products

TerryMulligan

When opening up a digital health solution to integration with another digital health product:

• What is the process, timeline, and budget required?
• What are some of the key challenges and risks associated with integrating with another product?

Shashi

Hi @scveena, @ajchenx, @RahulJindal, @Vishalgandhi, @addy_kulkarni, @Nitesh, @shamakarkal, @kkatara, @dzera, @ymedan, @tylerbn, @rajpanda, @Manoj_Nemocare, @biki - As you all have experience in digital health product/service initiatives, we feel you might have inputs to share on integrating digital health products.

ymedan

It depends on both products. I don't think that there is a general recipe or best practices yet.
The only example that I am aware of is the partnership of Livongo and Dexcom

Shashi

Thanks @ymedan for sharing your thoughts and example. We would love to know more about the partnership of Livongo and Dexcom in terms of timeline, budget, challenges and risks involved if possible.

Shashi

Hi @vipat, @Davisthedoc, @meallen3, @Hlantum, @SArora, @jenyxp, @lswright, @arun_venkatesan, @creativiti, @sola1008, @dykki and @siimsaare - It would be great to hear your experiences with integrating digital health products in terms of timeline, budget, challenges and risks involved.

Shashi

Hi @Shabbir, @rams, @C_Castellaz, @jblaya, @jonc101, @Rajen, @poppyfarrow, @pglass, @RKadam, @alabriqu, @preciouslunga, @ClaireM, @joshnesbit - Curious to know if you have inputs to share on digital health products integration.

Shashi

Hi @ingmarweber, @stephaniel, @reubenwenisch, @mashizaq, @bngejane, @ShmuleyG, @nastyahaut, @Stefania - As per many experts EHR integration, interoperability and security is the key challenges in digital products integration - What do you feel? Is there any more challenges in addition to these and what could be the possible risk involved?

mashizaq

@Shashi The major challenge that has been cited in the digital products integration is government policies and regulations. Most of these governments are becoming wary of digitalization, therefore they allow only the development of the sector in a highly controlled or in a slower manner. Similarly, they put in place laws and regulations that restrict or inhibit the open and transparent advancement of digitalization.

HeatherSutton

@mashizaq ~ Interesting. Why do you think governments are becoming wary of digitalization? Is it just the proliferation of digital tools or do you think there is a movement back towards an analog approach (i.e. paper-based health records)? What do you think it would take to get real buy-in from governments on a digital approach? Finally, do you personally feel that governments that adopt a digital approach are going in the right direction? If so, why?

mashizaq

@HeatherSutton I think it is more on the proliferation of digital tools and distrust with the technology, which has been fueled by numerous usability, design and performance issues as traditional government officers struggle to grasp a digital world where citizen experience is king.
The world is becoming digital, and reliable, timely, and accurate information is available at the push of a button. Governments are following suit, using digital tools for tax and expenditure policy, public financial management, and public service delivery. With better information, governments can build better systems, as well as design and implement better policies.
Governments that adopt a digital approach are going in the right direction because through this, governments manage to devote resources to developing sound, reliable IT systems, hence find it much easier to provide digital services for citizens and businesses.