The Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education Framework

Digital health is the use of information and communication technologies in health care to promote better health and well-being. It encompasses (among others) electronic health records, clinical decision support systems, telemedicine, mobile apps, wearable devices, data analytics, and, increasingly, artificial intelligence. The application of digital health has rapidly grown worldwide over the past 4 decades, and accelerated particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many physicians feel inadequately prepared to use digital health technologies safely and effectively in their work. According to the Stanford Medicine 2020 Health Trends Report, 44% of physicians considered their education to be inadequate for new health care technologies. This report is consistent with findings from multiple countries showing that many medical students and junior physicians do not feel equipped to use digital health technologies and are keen to receive more training in this field.