How I use digital health as a physiotherapist

Introduction

Digital health has rapidly transformed the healthcare landscape, reshaping how we deliver care, communicate and manage information. Gone are the days where paper-based systems could keep up with the increasing demand. Both clinical and non-clinical staff now rely on technology to streamline workflows, improve efficiency and deliver faster, more accessible care and administrative support.

With an ageing population, more people leaving their healthcare careers¹ and immense pressure on services, it is no longer sustainable to do things the way we always have. The healthcare system must evolve – and technology is underpinning this change.

As a physiotherapist, I have experienced first-hand how technology can streamline care, improve patient outcomes and make our work performance more efficient. From telehealth to AI-powered applications, digital health tools are becoming deeply embedded in our everyday work.

Digital health in physiotherapy

The most significant changes in my clinical practice are the transition onto an electronic health record (EHR) and the use of telehealth. Digitising clinical documentation, patient plans and referrals has eliminated problems associated with illegible handwriting and has significantly improved accessibility of patient notes. Staff members can now work remotely (due to disability, sickness, isolation, etc.) without compromising patient care. I’m envious that a new generation of healthcare professionals won’t have to queue to write in a single set of notes, search for a pen mid-sentence as the ink fails and sift through pages and pages of paper documentation to find their last entry.

Telehealth has been pivotal in increasing accessibility of care to patients through telephone/video appointments and online communication. Telehealth was in use prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and its use rocketed when isolation and distancing rules were introduced, making traditional physiotherapy appointments inaccessible².

I use a form of telehealth every day with my patients as it’s so popular. It opens up services to those who live rurally and cannot afford appointment-related costs, such as petrol and parking. People no longer need to take the day off work to attend an appointment and caregivers/shift workers have more convenient contact with their healthcare provider.

We’re also starting to see the benefits of remote patient monitoring (RPM) – devices and applications that track metrics such as range of motion and exercise adherence. Gamification can be embedded into these applications too, making individuals more likely to continue with their exercises³. These applications allow the physiotherapist to progress the patient’s exercise programmes remotely without requiring in-person appointments.

Beyond physiotherapy, digital health has made remarkable advances. Technology has also allowed surgeons to operate on patients remotely⁴, increasing the speed of care delivery and reducing healthcare costs.

Challenges in the digital shift

It goes without saying that integrating digital tools and applications throughout healthcare organisations will come with a spectrum of challenges and considerations. Firstly, these tools must comply with data privacy and protection guidelines. We expect full privacy and confidentiality when we attend healthcare appointments and that must continue as technology supports healthcare workers. Healthcare data is lucrative to hackers. Hospitals pay to protect patient data and the organisations’ reputation, therefore making cybersecurity a high priority.

Secondly, digital tools must be ethical and not discriminate. It is known that some demographics, e.g. ethnic minorities, have historically received substandard healthcare treatment compared to other nationalities⁵. By inputting this data into a training computer system, it runs the risk of teaching bad practice, and computers learn to make biased decisions⁶.

Whilst these applications are designed to increase accessibility of healthcare, reduce appointment-related costs and support clinicians’ workload, they run the risk of widening the digital divide. Elderly individuals or those from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to require multiple healthcare services and less likely to spend money on digital devices. The use of online healthcare resources may introduce inequity among these groups, impacting their access to healthcare. Despite this, numerous initiatives, charities and organisations are in place to provide education and digital devices to these groups to help bridge this gap.

Once these applications have passed checks for data protection, cybersecurity, legal policies, ethical approval and clinical safety, staff must be happy to use them. Change management in healthcare technology is challenging, particularly for people satisfied with the current status quo. Change can be overwhelming for individuals who do not regularly interact with technology. Despite this, there is an abundance of opportunities to successfully embrace digital health.

Opportunities and the future in digital health

I believe the future of physiotherapy will be fully digital. Electronic documentation will become the new standard with AI scribing implemented across all clinics. Clinicians will have their choice of approved AI tools to assist with clinical support and decision-making as well as performing administrative tasks. Furthermore, I believe AI will have a role within referral triaging. This is a role undertaken by clinicians who follow local guidelines. Not only does this eat into potential patient-facing time, but there can be inconsistencies in triage decisions between clinicians.

Importantly, digital health will empower patients to manage their own health with confidence. Using their mobile application to book a GP appointment instead of waiting in a telephone queue at 8am. They will also be able to access physiotherapy advice and information remotely. Remote patient-monitoring technology will reduce the need for in-person check-ins and allow patients to give data on their preferred time of day. Please don’t be mistaken, digital health won’t replace the human element; in fact, it will work to encourage less-stressed clinicians who look patients in the eye. Not writing, listening and talking simultaneously.

In departments, clinicians should focus on becoming digital health champions to support their team with technology implementation, education and troubleshooting. For all staff members, micro-credential courses are becoming available to build confidence in digital literacy, data protection, cybersecurity, etc. In fact, the UKDHC has recently published a digital health self-assessment questionnaire called the Real Deal⁷, which can benchmark your current level of digital health knowledge, allowing you to address specific areas for further development.

I hope to see digital technology become more integrated into university curriculums, bringing forward a new generation of healthcare professionals both confident and competent in healthcare technology.

Final thoughts

Digital health is not a distant concept; it’s already woven throughout modern physiotherapy and healthcare. We’re witnessing a shift that is reshaping how we deliver care, connect with patients and collaborate with colleagues. Whilst this change presents its challenges, the opportunities far outweigh the barriers.

Physiotherapists provide holistic, patient-centred care, making us natural innovators and advocates for accessible, high-quality care. Whether it’s embracing new clinical technologies, contributing to digital projects or upskilling through professional development, we each have a role to play in shaping a future where healthcare is more connected, equitable and sustainable.

If you are interested in helping to shape the future of digital health, come and join the UKDHC to connect, learn and lead alongside like-minded professionals⁸.

References

Jacinta Peers
Physiotherapist, Auckland