Digital Health vs. Digital Therapeutics

2 min read

Technology is now a common way to deliver healthcare. Digital health products help prevent, diagnose, or manage chronic conditions. Devices range from wellness apps to artificial intelligence and wearable devices.

Not all digital health products are the same. Some may not have clinical evidence that they work. Other products have evidence-based benefits in specific diseases. Evidence-based digital health products are “digital therapeutics.”

Digital health products can improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. But it can be hard to identify ones with proven benefits. Digital health groups have developed a framework to help understand these technologies.

How are digital health, digital medicine, and digital therapeutics defined?

Learning about the key features of digital health, digital medicine, and digital therapeutics can help you understand their similarities and differences.

Digital health

Digital health is a broad category. It includes all technologies used for health-related purposes. This includes online lifestyle platforms and wellness apps. Examples include step counters or meditation apps. Clinical operations systems also use digital health products. Digital health technologies store or transmit health data.^1,2

Digital health products do not need clinical evidence that they work. Government bodies may not regulate them as medical devices. This is because digital health products have a low risk.^1,2

Digital medicine

Digital medicine is 1 part of digital health. It refers to products that measure or intervene in human health. Digital medicine products can help monitor and diagnose certain conditions.¹

Digital medicine products must have clinical evidence that they work. Government groups regulate some of these products as medical devices. This is because digital medicine products have more risk than digital health products.¹

Digital therapeutics

Digital therapeutics (DTx) is 1 part of digital medicine. It refers to technologies that prevent, manage, or treat a specific disorder or disease. People can use DTx products alone or with other treatments.^1,3

DTx products must have clinical evidence of benefits and safety. Government agencies certify and regulate DTx products. This is because DTx products have a higher risk. Regulation helps make sure they work as intended.^1,3

What are examples of digital health and digital therapeutics?

Digital health

Some digital health products store health information, such as:¹

User-facing technologies
Health Information Technology
Consumer health information

Other digital health products transmit health information, such as:¹

Telehealth
Decision support software
Clinical care management

Digital medicine

Most digital medicine products make health measurements, such as:¹

Digital diagnostics
Electronic clinical outcome assessments
Remote patient monitoring

Other digital medicine products intervene based on these measurements. For example, certain digital companions can make decisions about healthcare.¹

Digital therapeutics

Digital therapeutics products use software to prevent, treat, or manage a certain condition. This includes:

Behavior programs to manage type 2 diabetes
Self-care programs to treat mental health disorders
Artificial intelligence to nudge people to take medicines

Why categorize digital health products?

Defining categories of digital health helps everyone use products that fit their needs. Digital health technologies and digital therapeutics can improve health outcomes. But it is hard to know the risks and benefits of each product when there are so many on the market.¹

These categories do not mean that some digital health products are more useful than others. Instead, they help people understand the digital products they are using. They also enable people to make better comparisons between different products.¹

Clearly defined categories can help support:¹

- People who want to use digital products that fit their health needs
- Doctors who want to suggest products to their patients
- Healthcare systems that use these technologies
- Companies that are developing digital health tools

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ralsted Member
Just wondering, as I research other options, are their any lobbyists that allocate some of their time on behalf of any within our grouping of disorders?
ralsted Member
With the government giving Elon Musk's go-ahead for clinical testing of their Neuralink AI-oriented start-up it should not hurt for anyone to send Neuralink a note as to how we with MG look forward to their growth to include solutions for MG. The company is located in Fremont (CA) so letters to California senators might be a good idea as well. Sorry, I am not smart enough to suggest how, or what, they can do for us yet action starts with an idea. BTW: any letter should include how MG is but within a grouping of like conditions. Also, for those that use Twitter (I do not) send a tweet to Elon Musk with the same message. Anjother BTW: I have yet to read deeper but AI might find easier MG solutions than ofther conditions within our grouping not to discount those in our grouping that have greater challenges than we normally do.
1. ralsted Member
 <inline-mention username="lauren-ruffalo" user-id="4153113"/> Hi Lauren, Ideally, it would be nice to find a Neurologist who has MG and an interest in researching AI application/s for correcting MG challenges … yet, for now: Obviously, it won’t work if the only solution to reading one’s brain is to affix sensors directly to one’s brain; i.e. operations. Instead, what if all that one would need to do is wear a ‘hat’ that can read brain activity in general and specifically the MG 'disabling process. I would like to believe that AI could then take over and ‘cancel’ MG’s current process. OK, maybe all we need is to engage someone who is already an expert in brain reading; saving me time in TRYING to learn the process … and, ideally, someone who also has MG. ... regards, Robert
2. ralsted Member
 <inline-mention username="ralsted" user-id="6694355"/> I found this article interesting for an initial, or early, read: https://irisreading.com/what-happens-in-the-brain-while-reading/#:~:text=As%20you%20read%2C%20your%20brain's,and%20use%20and%20comprehend%20grammar.
ralsted Member
Today’s news included a report on giving one walking ability thanks to AI. As Captain Hook would say “good form” to the individual helped but equally to researchers for– and application of–AI (Artificial Intelligence). Nothing is more important than giving mobility, without crutches, to those challenged with paralysis issues, yet how about MD, ALS or any Neurology-oriented disease; and then as based on priorities: MG. Has anyone read, or seen, any news as to AI actually being applied (even if only research) to MD, ALS or ??? which might filter down to MG?