How Digital Is Transforming Disease Management

As most chronic disease management happens outside of the medical office, digital has a tremendous opportunity to assist care teams and patients with communication, education and monitoring key data points. Better disease management can improve healthcare outcomes for people with chronic conditions, from diabetes and heart disease to rare chronic conditions such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Disease management typically involves coordinating treatments across multiple medical providers and communications for targeted patient populations where self-care efforts can be effective. Goals for disease management include reducing healthcare costs and improving patient quality of life by preventing or minimizing the effects of the disease, including delaying disease progression. As most chronic disease management happens outside of the medical office, digital has a tremendous opportunity to assist care teams and patients with communication, education and monitoring key data points. Monitoring disease progression, offering patients reminders on when to take their medications and facilitating communication between medical providers and patients are a few examples of where regulated apps can assist.