Future and development direction of digital healthcare

Objectives: Digital healthcare is expected to play a pivotal role in patient-centered healthcare. It empowers patients by informing, communicating, and motivating them. However, a pragmatic evaluation of the present status of digital healthcare has not been presented; therefore, we aimed to examine the status of digital healthcare in Korea. Methods: This article discusses digital healthcare, examples of assessment in Korea and other countries, the implications of past examples, and future directions for development. Results: Over the years, various clinical studies have used clinical evidence to assess the feasibility of digital healthcare. If feasible, it is actually clinically effective. If it is effective, can it be commercialized at an acceptable cost? These questions have been investigated in various evidence-based studies. In addition, great efforts are being made to secure ample evidence to assess various aspects of digital healthcare, such as safety, quality, end-user experience, and equity. Conclusions: Digital healthcare requires a deep understanding of both the technical and medical aspects. To strengthen the competence of the medical aspect, medical staff, patients, and the government must work together with continuous interest in this goal.