The human connection: How dedicated care teams advance digital health

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In health care, as in life, the human connection is vital. We form long-term relationships with primary care physicians, physical therapists, mental health professionals and specialists of every stripe who are familiar with our health issues and, in some cases, our personal lives. That continuity ensures informed guidance, moral support and accountability when we need strategies to address our medical challenges.

The vast majority of today’s digital health programs are missing these connections. Some are 100% virtual, only offering chatbots, digital concierges or asynchronous chats when users need assistance. Others have health coaches who follow scripts rather than providing personalized advice, or on-call doctors who have no knowledge of the user’s medical history and who will likely be unavailable the next time they call.