What's Happening?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England has endorsed the use of eight digital health technologies (DHTs) to support asthma management. These tools, available on smartphones
and tablets, offer personalized asthma action plans and symptom tracking. They aim to improve asthma management by providing educational content and facilitating communication with healthcare providers. The approval allows these technologies to be used while further evidence of their benefits is gathered. Additionally, NICE has approved an AI-based tool, ArtiQ.Spiro, for lung function testing, which could help address diagnostic backlogs.
Why It's Important?
The endorsement of digital health tools by NICE represents a significant step towards integrating technology into healthcare management. These tools have the potential to enhance patient engagement and self-management of asthma, particularly in underserved communities. By providing personalized support, they could help reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for individuals with asthma. The use of AI in diagnostic testing also highlights the growing role of technology in streamlining healthcare processes and addressing resource constraints. This development underscores the importance of digital innovation in improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
