For over a decade, healthcare has been slowly transitioning to a digital future. However, with the growing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) and reliance on smart devices, this change is happening quicker than ever. 

Digital technology is increasingly affecting healthcare globally, from how professionals provide care to how patients receive it. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a massive role in accelerating this digital transformation.

If you’re planning to advance your career in healthcare, like studying online BSN to MSN programs, understanding digital health is crucial. It’ll help you smoothly transition to using digital technology and how to utilize it to improve patient outcomes.

This article explores how technology is transforming the nursing profession and how nurses can best prepare for the digital evolution. It’ll also cover popular examples of digital health tools and the benefits of utilizing the technology in healthcare.

What is digital health?

Digital health is an encompassing term that refers to the digital technologies that are being employed for health care and related uses. For instance, this includes mobile health apps, wearable devices, and telehealth.

Statista reports that the digital health market was worth around 172 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, with it forecasted to grow. Data also shows that it was estimated that over 1.3 billion people were using digital health in 2024.

A few examples of digital health tools include:

• Electronic health records systems, which can manage and store medical information
• Wearable devices, like fitness trackers and smartwatches
• Health-related apps, like booking services and e-scripts
• Online patient portals, which allow patients to access their own records and history

The benefits of digital health

Digital health tools provide a wealth of benefits, from providers having a more holistic view of patient health to giving patients more control over their health and data. Statistics show that digital technology can also improve health outcomes and enhance efficiency.

For example, patients can use wearable technology to better manage their health and track health-related activities. Smart watches are able to track information like blood pressure and heart rate, which can provide a good holistic health overview.

Below is a list of the different benefits digital technologies can bring to the healthcare landscape.

• Increase accessibility for healthcare services, like telehealth for remote appointments and accessing scripts
• Increase efficiency through the use of digital administrative tools streamlining tasks
• Improve the accuracy and consistency of patient records using electronic health record systems
• Better personalization of treatment plans, leading to more effective care and successful outcomes
• Digital health tools facilitate enhanced and varied communication, from phone calls to messages, video chats, and email correspondence

As modern technology advances, especially with the growth of artificial intelligence, the advantages of digital health tools will grow, too.

How technology is changing nursing

Technology is already having a significant impact on the world of nursing, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. According to the World Health Organization, there is a significant shortage of nurses worldwide.

The World Health Organization’s State of the World’s Nursing Report highlights how nurses are feeling overburdened, underappreciated, and burned out, which is contributing to low retention rates and the workforce shortage.

While technology alone isn’t the sole solution for the nursing shortage, it will play a massive role in alleviating the consequences of the problem. Technological innovations can help relieve the burden of many tasks and duties associated with the role. 

For example, digital tools like electronic health record systems are already streamlining many of the administrative tasks that nurses would otherwise have to do by hand. The process of updating patient information and sharing records between organizations has become more efficient due to digital health technology.

As technology advances, the diagnostic tools that nurses use are also becoming better. For instance, tools that were once oversized and costly to run are now more accessible and portable, like an ECG.

Artificial intelligence and chatbots are also gaining popularity in healthcare. Although it will be some time before they’re implemented beyond experimental testing, the tools have the potential to be used for providing advice and improving diagnosis accuracy.

Preparing for the digital transition

Nursing and healthcare overall have already begun the transition to relying on digital systems, like smart mobile devices and the internet. This rapid adoption of digital health tools is particularly a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which required people to use telehealth and other virtual models of care. 

If you’re working in healthcare and haven’t already adopted digital health tools, the next best time to learn them is now. If you want to be prepared, we recommend speaking with your organization about Information Communication Technology (ICT) professional development classes or workshops.

We also recommend actively participating in digital health decision-making. This could include engaging in your organization’s digital health initiatives, like implementing a new electronic records system or patient portal app.

Familiarizing yourself with digital health concepts, including telehealth, administrative health programs, and mobile apps, is also crucial. Developing a strong foundation about the different digital health tools will help you better understand and learn how to use them. 

Pursuing further education or training by returning to study a postgraduate degree that offers courses in digital health and ICT in nursing can also be beneficial and prepare you for the future.

Over the next decade, the nursing shortage is only expected to worsen. Learning about the different digital health tools and strategies for implementing them will be the key to dealing with the profession’s increased workload due to the shortage and ensuring you’re not left behind during the transition.

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