New horizons in the role of digital data in the healthcare of older people
Jane Masoli, Oliver Todd, Jennifer Kirsty Burton, C. B. Wolff, Katherine E. Walesby, Jonathan Hewitt, Simon Conroy, James van Oppen, Chris Wilkinson, Ruth Evans, Atul Anand, Joe Hollinghurst, Cini Bhanu, Victoria L. Keevil, Emma Vardy, The Geridata Group, Atul Anand, Jennifer Kirsty Burton, Cini Bhanu, Matthew Butler, Andrew Clegg, Jemima Collins, Simon Conroy, Richard Dodds, Ruth Evans, Stephanie L. Harrison, Jonathan Hewitt, Joe Hollinghurst, Daniel Jones, Victoria L. Keevil, Jane Masoli, Lara Mitchell, James van Oppen, Marc F. Österdahl, Terry Quinn, Oliver Todd, Emma Vardy, Katherine E. Walesby, Chris Wilkinson
Abstract
There are national and global moves to improve effective digital data design and application in healthcare. This New Horizons commentary describes the role of digital data in healthcare of the ageing population. We outline how health and social care professionals can engage in the proactive design of digital systems that appropriately serve people as they age, carers and the workforce that supports them. KEY POINTS: Healthcare improvements have resulted in increased population longevity and hence multimorbidity. Shared care records to improve communication and information continuity across care settings hold potential for older people. Data structure and coding are key considerations. A workforce with expertise in caring for older people with relevant knowledge and skills in digital healthcare is important.