Personal digital health hubs for multiple conditions

Abstract

Multimorbidity is the presence of more than one chronic disease condition in an individual. Health-related, socioeconomic, cultural and environmental factors, as well as patient behaviour, all influence the outcomes of multimorbidity. Addressing these complex and often interacting biopsychosocial factors therefore requires a shift in treatment from a physical damage model towards person-centred integrated care with increased patient agency. Education influences behaviour and can be used to empower patients and their carers with greater agency, thus allowing greater responsibility for and control over the management of patient care. In this paper we reflect on our own learning as a community of health practitioners from different disciplines. Recognizing the increasing importance of patient agency in driving the evolution of health care, we describe the concept of a web-based personal digital health hub for integrated patient care. Informed by collaboration between patient, health and education communities, we share our early experience in the implementation of a health hub around a cohort of patients with hip fractures. We also describe a vision for future health care based on the co-creation of digital health hubs centred on patients’ and carers’ needs. The health hub could allow important advances and efficiencies to be achieved in workforce practice and education; patient and carer engagement in self-care; and the collection of patient-reported health data required for ongoing research and improvements in health care.