How Trustworthy are Digital Health Apps?

By Nitin Goyal, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Founder & CEO at Pulse Platform. Originally published on Quora.

The market for digital health tools is finally starting to catch up to the demand. Unfortunately, this increase can lead to a surge in unreliable tools.

Nearly half of consumers today are considered digital health adopters — and that number is only going to rise as the benefits become apparent and tech-savvy generations get older.

I’m not the first entrepreneur to create a digital health app for patients. But as a surgeon, I’m very aware of the day-to-day issues that arise, including the nuanced relationship between patient and provider.

Not all entrepreneurs in digital healthcare have this level of awareness. That means some digital health tools don’t consider a patient’s best interest.

If you are using a digital health tool (or plan to use one in the future) be on the lookout for these warning signs about its trustworthiness to protect your health.

Here’s what to look out for:

1. You Are Given A Firm Medical Diagnosis

Your digital health tool is not your doctor.

And it’s not a replacement for your doctor. Getting a firm medical diagnosis from a digital health tool is a huge red flag. If anything, these tools should be erring on the side of caution. So, if there’s a difficult question about your health, the tool should defer and tell you to see a medical provider.

You should never type in symptoms on an app and get an exact diagnosis. Strict laws monitor handing out medical diagnosis.

That goes double for prescriptions. Any digital health tool that tells provides you with a prescription without a doctor’s consultation is not trustworthy. Look, an app doesn’t have intuition or a medical license. It can’t form a relationship with you like your doctor.

These tools are designed to make healthcare more convenient for patients.

But there’s no way an app alone can safely diagnose a condition or prescribe you medication to treat it. You should not be using any digital health tool that aims to do either.

2. It Does Not Educate You

The best digital health tools are easy to use and engaging. They’re also educational and provide patients with the right information, at the right time.

Why? Because education goes a long way for an anxious patient, especially after surgery. In this case, the level of education and communication between a doctor and patient is critical.

A good digital health tool facilitates communication and educates the patient using it.

These tools are a path for patients. A patient’s journey does not end right after leaving surgery and the hospital. For many, it is just beginning. The best digital health tools walk patients down a path, identify if they veer off, and give them information to stay on course.

When an app is confusing or uninformative, that should give you pause.

3. You (The Patient) Have To Pay For Information

No digital health tool should hide information behind a paywall. This is especially relevant now, because consumers willingness to pay for health expenses out-of-pocket has increased threefold since 2015.

Even if you are willing to pay right there and then, you should not be paying to get information from your digital health tools. As I said, these tools are not doctors. They’re supposed to make your experience easier and more convenient. Making you pay for information does neither of those things.

You are already paying your doctor, either out-of-pocket or through your insurance. Apps that make you pay, or have a tiered access system, are unworthy of your trust.

And providers have a major role to play here. We have the responsibility to push patients towards more accurate and trustworthy tools. I’m always happy to spend time with my patients and make sure they get the information they need, because I know there are a growing number of options out there. Unfortunately, not all of them are great.

If you are concerned about an app you’re using, check it with your doctor or provider. Otherwise, keep these three rules in mind as you navigate the new digital healthcare market.

Remember, your doctor should always be your primary source for healthcare.

By Nitin Goyal, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Founder & CEO at Pulse Platform. Originally published on Quora.

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