UK Law and Practice Contributed by: Amélie Chollet, Hannah Curtis and David Dennis, CMS
Women’s health apps This category includes apps relating to fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menstruation and
• telemedicine is a clinical subset of telehealth, focused on remote diagnosis and treatment; • mHealth specifically relates to mobile and wearable technologies for health purposes, often used by both patients and profession- als; • EPRs relate to data storage and manage- ment, not direct care delivery; and • RPM is about the collection and transmission of health data from patients outside clinical settings, often using mHealth technologies and integrating with telemedicine platforms. 1.2 Use/Application of Digital Healthcare Digital technology is increasingly mainstream in UK healthcare settings. The NHS requires GP practices to offer online and video consultation tools, and there is widespread use of electron- ic patient records and digital communication methods. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital health solutions, making remote consultations and digital triage common practice. From October 2021, all GP practices were required to offer and promote online con- sultation tools, video consultation tools, secure electronic communication methods, and online facilities for updating personal or contact infor- mation. These are to be in place alongside, rath- er than as a replacement for, other access and communication methods such as telephone and face-to-face contact. Digital technology is used in healthcare settings in a variety of ways, as follows. Clinical Decision Support Digital health apps and software assist health- care professionals in diagnosing conditions, determining treatment options and managing patient care.
other women’s health concerns. Electronic Patient Records (EPRs)
These are digital systems for healthcare provid- ers to store, manage and share patient health information. EPRs facilitate access to patient data across different healthcare professionals and institutions, and can be integrated with other digital health tools. They are not direct care deliv- ery tools but are essential for the management and continuity of care. Their use is governed by strict data protection and security requirements, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU and EEA. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) This involves the use of digital devices and soft- ware to monitor patients’ health status, and col- lect health data, outside traditional clinical set- tings. Examples include wearable sensors for heart rate, blood glucose monitoring devices, and apps that transmit data to healthcare pro- viders for ongoing assessment. RPM can be integrated with telemedicine platforms and may be regulated as a medical device, depending on its intended use. Summary The distinction between the foregoing forms often hinges on their intended use, the nature of the data processed, and whether they are used for medical purposes (diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of disease). The various types and their distinctions can be summarised as follows: • telehealth is the broadest category, covering all remote healthcare services, including non- clinical services;
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