Introduction to Consumer Health Informatics and Digital Inclusion

Abstract

Consumer health informatics emerged in an effort to better address consumers’ articulated needs with managing their health concerns. Although developers initially focused on developing stand-alone tools, devices, and platforms, widespread deployment and adoption of broadband networks is enabling the creation of consumer health ecosystems that work automatically in the background to support patient needs. To ensure universal benefit from these tools, it will be important to maximize broadband deployment and adoption, enhance the design of emerging systems, and address privacy and security concerns. As this occurs, consumer health informatics tools will help create a radically different future healthcare system that will improve health outcomes and substantially reduce health disparities in ways that were not previously possible.