Digital Infrastructure
Digital infrastructure refers to the underlying systems and networks that support digital technology, including hardware, software, data storage, communication protocols, and network services. It is essential for modern computing and information exchange. In the context of healthcare, this manifests as Digital Health Infrastructure (DHI), enabling data-driven care models and post-crisis resilience.
Key Components
- Internet: The backbone of global digital communication.
- Data Centers: Facilities used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems.
- Networks: Wired and wireless networks that facilitate data transmission between devices.
- Software: Programs running on various platforms to provide services and applications.
- Health-Specific Protocols: Standards for interoperable health data exchange, critical for digital-health ecosystems.
Governance and Policy Frameworks
Recent academic discourse highlights emerging models of data governance within the platform society. Specifically, Micheli - Emerging models of data governance (2017) examines four distinct governance models arising in the age of datafication:
- Corporate Platform Dominance: The prevailing model where private entities control data flows.
Digital Health Infrastructure (DHI) Trends
Post-pandemic analysis indicates a shift in DHI towards greater integration and resilience. Morrison etal DHI 2022 Emerging trends in digital health and care a refresh post covid (2022) outlines key developments:
- Conceptual Models: Evolution of digital health visions focusing on interoperable care models rather than siloed solutions.
- Post-COVID Refresh: Accelerated adoption of remote care and digital triage tools, requiring robust underlying infrastructure to support sudden load spikes.
- Stakeholder Integration: Emphasis on collaborative frameworks involving clinicians, patients, and tech providers to reduce implementation errors.
- Governance in Health: Specific application of data governance models to ensure patient privacy while enabling large-scale big-data analysis for public health outcomes.