February marked significant announcements from the Peterson Health Tech Institute, including the formation of the Digital Health Collaborative, and plans for two new case studies using their assessment model.
The newly formed collaborative is composed of 14 organizations, including the American Medical Association and the AARP, and it will look at digital health evidence and adoption.
The organization plans to launch a survey on digital health purchasing and offer grant opportunities in the near future, PHTI announced.
“The Digital Health Collaborative is raising the bar for guidance, research and resources that can accelerate the adoption of solutions that work and are worth it,” Meg Barron, managing director of engagement and outreach at PHTI, said in a statement. “The Digital Health Collaborative is moving the industry forward at a critical crossroads.”
In addition, PHTI announced a new assessment for digital solutions addressing hypertension and mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
Previous studies have shown that monitoring tools can make a difference in addressing older adults’ hypertension.
PHTI’s assessment will look at tools that both monitor and attempt to reduce hypertension, adding that “in-office blood pressure readings are notoriously unreliable.”
Regarding mental health, up to a quarter of older adults deal with anxiety and depression, according to the National Council on Aging, although this cohort is less likely to use services or telehealth to address problems.
PHTI aims to release both reports by the end of this year.
PHTI developed a proprietary framework for assessing digital tools last year. The institute began its series on digital product assessments this past October, with a review of tools aimed at diabetes and muscle pain, the McKnight’s Tech Daily reported at the time.
More information about the Digital Health Collaborative, its members and goals, can be found here.
