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. 2020 Apr;141(4):350-355.
doi: 10.1111/acps.13149. Epub 2020 Jan 26.

Digital navigators to implement smartphone and digital tools in care

H Wisniewski  1 , J Torous  1
Affiliations

Digital navigators to implement smartphone and digital tools in care

H Wisniewski et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

While smartphone apps and other digital health tools have the clear potential to increase both quality of and access to care, actual successful implementation remains limited. Challenges often encountered in seeking to use apps in care include selecting safe/effective tools, spending clinical time troubleshooting technology instead of discussing health matters, and lack of time to check and review constant streams of data these digital tools can produce. In this 'From Research to Clinical Practice' piece, we focus on how a new care team member, the digital navigator, can help overcome these barriers through conducting evidence-based app evaluation to help in selecting the right apps, troubleshooting technology outside of visits to improve the therapeutic alliance during, and finally summarizing digital data to facilitate clinical care that focus on actionable data.

Keywords: apps; digital health; internet therapy; outcome.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None. Dr. Torous receives support for a study funded by Ostuka that is unrelated to this work.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A summary of how the digital navigator’s role can aid the clinician and augment patient care.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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