The integration of advanced technology into clinical care is reshaping the structure of professionals in healthcare. For example, the NHS Education England Report Data Driven Healthcare in 2030: Transformation Requirements of the NHS Digital Technology and Health Informatics Workforce predicts a required size of 78,000 full-time digitalisation experts in 2030, which is 46,000 more than in 2020. Professionals are needed in areas such as IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence because of the growing demand in these fields.

As more advanced technology is used in clinical care, healthcare workers also need to learn new skills to keep up with the changes. With the aging population and not enough healthcare workers, there's a push to use technology to meet the growing need for care. In a HIMSS TV interview, Dr. Mette Maria Skjoeth, head of the Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre at Odense University Hospital (OUH), highlighted the potential of AI in healthcare. "Currently, it might take two doctors to make a diagnosis," she said. "With AI's help, we aim to reduce that number to one, or perhaps even eliminate the need for a doctor to make certain diagnoses in the future."

How can we effectively introduce tech knowledge to clinicians? Dr. Georgi Chaltikyan, a professor of Digital Health and head of Master of Digital Health (MDH) at Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) and the founder of the Armenian Association of Digital Health (AADH), emphasises the importance of integrating digital health courses into existing curricula. Knowledge transfer can take several forms – from extended courses and certifications to micro-courses and content such as short webinars clinicians can learn from at their own pace and time. All these efforts can initiate awareness and gradual adoption of digital health, contributing to healthcare sustainability.

Professor Chaltikyan says digital technology enhances patient outcomes directly and indirectly by improving workflows. "Enhancing efficiency and reducing burnout ultimately positively affects care outcomes," he states.

Because of the broad impact of improving the digital literacy of the healthcare workforce on healthcare economics, actions for upskilling are recognised on policy levels as well. The OECD Health Working Paper titled Empowering the Health Workforce suggests that to overcome digital transformation barriers, policy actions should build trust in digital benefits. This will enhance skills for digital health technologies' effective use and adapt health service delivery.

Professor Dr. Georgi Chaltikyan is among the speakers at the 2024 HIMSS European Health Conference & Exhibition, which is scheduled to take place 29-31 May 2024 in Rome. Learn more and register.