1. Digital Health Solutions for Vulnerable Populations: Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable Populations through Digital Innovation
June

2. PROJECT OVERVIEW
To serve as a national resource dedicated to the advancement and practical application of digital health solutions for addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in the prevention and management of chronic non-communicable conditions:
Obtain measurable improvement of the health and well-being of vulnerable populations through the application of digital technology-enabled solutions
Support the design, development, implementation, evaluation and promotion of solutions and best practices in collaboration with community members and stakeholder organizations
Advance the impact of digital health solutions in reducing health disparities and achieving the objectives of the Triple Aim for the benefit of vulnerable populations.

3. VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND THEIR RISK FOR HEALTH DISPARITIES
Certain Populations Experience Variations
in the Provision of
Health Services and
Health Status that Put Them At Risk for Health Disparities
Reflect Broad Diversity in terms of Belief Systems, Religious or Cultural Values, Life Experiences, and Group Identity
Poor
Elderly
Women and Children
Persons with Disabilities
Racial and Ethnic Minorities
The Homeless
Previously Incarcerated
Refugees and Immigrants
Health Status
Socioeconomic Status
Geographic Location
Physical Environment
Functional or
Developmental Status
Age
Gender
Impacts Their Receptiveness to and the Effectiveness of Interventions Designed to Reduce Risks for Health Disparities

4. APPLYING A PUBLIC HEALTH LENS
Our assessment of how digital solutions can reduce the vulnerability of at-risk populations to health disparities recognizes that health outcomes are mainly influenced by economic, social and environmental conditions

5. TECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE CREATES DIGITAL HEALTH SOLUTION OPPORTUNITIES
Telehealth
Sensors &
Services
Mobile, Apps
& Gaming
Platform technologies and services for remote delivery of and access to health care resources
Novel sensing devices for monitoring activity, physiology, location, and environmental conditions
Technologies and motivational strategies to engage consumers in public and personal health activities
Cell Phone
eReader
Social Media
Data
Analytics
Game Console
Wearables
Desktop PC
Remote Montoring
Tablet Computer
Videoconferencing
Apps
Texting
Internet 5

6. STRATEGIC RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
To reduce the vulnerability of at-risk populations to health disparities by leveraging digital technologies to:
Increase their access to and effective use of health resources and support services
Strengthen individual and community capacity for health improvement and well-being
How can digital health solutions reduce the vulnerability of at-risk populations to health disparities through increasing their access to and effective use of health resources and support services, and improving community and individual health and well-being goals?

7. CORE PROJECT ACTIVITIES
The Initiative will collaborate with affected communities to achieve its goal through two core work activities
Community Engagement Listening Sessions. Conduct focus groups with community stakeholder organizations and individual residents to develop core understanding of the actual and potential role for digital health solutions in reducing health disparities.
Digital Health Solution Best Practices. Conduct a national review of digital health solutions for the prevention and management of chronic conditions, and an assessment of best practices in areas of design, implementation, and sustainability.
Key Activities
The core activity areas of the Initiative include:
Community Engagement Listening Sessions - Develop core understanding of the actual and potential role for digital health solutions in reducing health disparities as well as user-centered design requirements through rapid cycle, targeted focus groups with representative community stakeholders and residents in 8 geographic locations
Identification of Digital Health Solution Best Practices for Vulnerable Populations - Identify meaningful and sustainable digital health solutions applied to the prevention and management of chronic conditions as well as facilitating linkages to community resources and services for at-risk populations
Dissemination and Promotion – Disseminate and promote program products, findings developed through community listening sessions, and leading best practices to ensure the advancement and practical application of digital health solutions in reducing health disparities among vulnerable populations.

8. COMMUNITY TARGETING AND SELECTION
Primary Criteria: Social and Economic Hardship
Primary Criteria: Social and Economic Hardship
Louisville
Miami-Dade
New York City

9. ANTICIPATED COMMUNITY OUTCOMES
The community sessions will lead to the identification of:
The cultural, social, economic barriers / facilitators to and effective use of digital technologies by vulnerable populations
Design principles for the development of solutions that promote usability and are consistent with community needs and goals
Priorities for advancing solutions within the community and strategies to advance their design, development, and implementation
Practices to work in consultation with communities to advance the design, development, and implementation of solutions

10. ANTICIPATED PROJECT OUTCOMES
The project will lead to solutions that:
Are user-centered and appropriate for use by vulnerable populations and in communities that are at-risk for health disparities
Enable positive behavior change, patient and provider connectedness, continuity of care, and individual and community capacity building
Support the prevention and management of chronic diseases and promote behaviors that lead to improved health and well-being
Take into account social determinants of poor health outcomes for vulnerable populations (i.e. poverty, housing, food access, etc.)

11. BEST PRACTICES SELECTION CRITERIA
Apply standard criteria to assess effectiveness and best practices in design, implementation and sustainability
Ability to solve a defined need
Stakeholder co-development
Financial viability
Technological Interoperability
Potential for replication
Select three best practices in the prevention and management of chronic conditions and supporting improvement in health and well-being
Best practices will be assessed and scored by members of the national advisory board

12. Andrew Broderick Program Director abroderick@phi
Andrew Broderick Program Director Valerie Steinmetz Program Manager