Healthcare providers and users are making slightly more use of digital tools. They are also somewhat more positive about the impact of digital care. This is evident from the 2024 Digital Care Monitor by RIVM, Nivel, and National eHealth Living Lab (NeLL). Some applications are widely used, such as the patient portal or digital written communication, but other tools are still used very little. Both groups generally see room to offer care more frequently (partly) digitally.
The researchers recommend conducting research into ways to further digitize care and to utilize existing digital care more frequently. It is important to involve healthcare providers and users in this process. This way, experiences from different perspectives can be taken into account.
Some groups make less use of digital care
Some groups, such as the elderly and those with basic education or vocational education, still make less use of digital care. This includes, for example, websites and apps to look up health information. These groups are also less positive about digital care. To ensure accessibility to care for everyone, it is important to adequately support these groups in using digital care. This can be done, for example, by offering training.
Attention to personal contact and alleviating concerns
The use of some digital tools remains low or decreases slightly. For example, the use of digital treatments for obesity or depression remains relatively low. This is surprising, as the use of these has been encouraged in recent years. Better communication about the benefits may help in this regard. Many care users indicate that digital care leads to insufficient personal contact. They also have concerns about their privacy. Therefore, it is worthwhile to investigate how digital care can be made more personal. Being open about data exchange and security can also help to increase trust.
About the Digital Care Monitor
Since 2021, RIVM, together with Nivel and National eHealth Living Lab, has been providing an annual overview of developments in digital care. For the 2024 monitor, opinions and experiences from four groups of healthcare providers and two groups of care users have been collected. The results are compiled in the Digital Care Monitor (formerly E-health monitor) and can be found on an interactive dashboard at VZinfo.nl (external link) and a factsheet. Later this spring, RIVM will publish two reports on the Integral Care Agreement (IZA). One report will also address the shift towards more hybrid care.