This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

TTRN CPH 2022: "Digital Health beyond COVID-19: Lessons Learned" (37)

Published on in Vol 9 (2023)

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/41204, first published .
Key Enablers to Boost Digital Health Solutions in Latin America

Key Enablers to Boost Digital Health Solutions in Latin America

Key Enablers to Boost Digital Health Solutions in Latin America

Authors of this article:

Regina Morán-Reséndiz1 Author Orcid Image ;   Catalina Ruiz-Arias2 Author Orcid Image
Article Authors Cited by Tweetations Metrics

    Abstract

    1Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Panamericana, Ciudad de México, Mexico

    2Universidad Ean, Bogota, Colombia

    ‡Movement Health 2030

    *all authors contributed equally

    Corresponding Author:

    Regina Morán-Reséndiz, MSc

    Facultad de Ingeniería

    Universidad Panamericana

    Augusto Rodin 498

    Ciudad de México, 0390

    Mexico

    Phone: 52 4424653135

    Email: contacto@reginamoran.com.mx


    Background: COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of global health systems. However, the pandemic is perceived to have boosted the use of technology and accelerated digital health solutions (DHS). In Latin America, DHS can increase accessibility and provide more efficient health services. Various key players have relevant roles for innovation within the health care systems. For this study, we focused on health-tech start-ups (developers) and health care providers (implementers) who can cocreate and develop new health care solutions.

    Objective: This research aimed to explore the aspects that boost innovation in the health care ecosystem in Latin America, based on the 5 key aspects of the Innovation Readiness Levels: market, technology, organization, partnerships, and risk.

    Methods: For this research, a qualitative study was conducted using the 5 key aspects of the Innovation Readiness Levels. Two types of organizations were selected: health-tech start-ups (developers) and health care providers (implementers). A total of 12 professionals from Latin America were interviewed. For each interview, quotes related to the 5 aspects were selected and subclustered to find relationships.

    Results: Based on the discovered relationships, 7 aspects to boost DHS in Latin America were identified: agility to respond, facilitating collaboration, building and sharing knowledge, creating user-centered solutions, economic resources and sustainability, ease of technological development and adoption, and reaching beyond hospitals. The first 4 aspects could apply to other regions outside Latin America. The last 3 are related to regional challenges in Latin America. Obstacles and calls to action were identified for each aspect.

    Conclusions: To boost DHS in Latin America, it is necessary to have a complete overview of the patient’s journey and consider all the users involved to understand their needs and identify opportunities to develop new solutions. This will contribute to the improvement of health solutions and patient outreach. Future research is suggested to develop a better understanding of these aspects in the Latin American countries that were not included in this research and to validate whether these are the only key aspects needed.

    Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

    iproc 2023;9:e41204

    doi:10.2196/41204

    Keywords

    digital health; Latin America; health care; innovation 

    Edited by B Dinesen; This is a non–peer-reviewed article. submitted 18.07.22; accepted 19.06.23; published 28.06.23.

    Copyright

    ©Regina Morán-Reséndiz, Catalina Ruiz-Arias. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 28.06.2023.

    This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in Iproceedings, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.iproc.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.