Human Led, Evidence Informed, Clinically Grounded

Digital health refers to the systems, tools, and technologies that support how care is delivered, documented, communicated, and evaluated.

In skin practice, this can include digital records, diagnostic and imaging tools, intelligent devices, wearables, patient education platforms, telehealth, data systems, and where appropriate, AI-supported tools.

It’s not a single product or trend. It’s an evolving ecosystem that intersects with clinical care, ethics, regulation, and professional responsibility.

No. AI is one component of digital health, not the whole picture.

Digital health includes many technologies that clinicians already use every day, often without naming them as such. AI sits within this ecosystem as a support tool that can assist with tasks like pattern recognition, education, administration, or workflow efficiency.

Understanding digital health broadly helps clinicians engage with AI more safely and thoughtfully

Digital health is not:

• Replacing clinicians or clinical judgement

• Making autonomous decisions about diagnosis or treatment

• A shortcut around regulation, consent, or scope of practice

• Marketing tools disguised as clinical innovation

In this space, technology is viewed as a support to human expertise, not a substitute for it.

Skin health practice is becoming more complex, with informed patients, advanced devices, growing data, and increasing regulatory expectations.

Digital health literacy helps clinicians:

• Make safer, more informed decisions

• Communicate clearly and ethically

• Reduce unnecessary administrative burden

• Prepare for future health system integration

Being digitally ready is increasingly part of professional competence; even for clinicians who prefer a hands-on, human-centred approach

No.

Digital readiness is not about being technical. It’s about being informed, curious, and cautious. You don’t need to build systems or understand code to ask good questions about safety, evidence, and appropriateness.

This work focuses on helping clinicians develop confidence, not to become technology experts.

Some content will be most relevant to dermal clinicians and allied health professionals, particularly where regulation and governance are concerned.

However, many principles, such as ethical communication, digital literacy, and understanding emerging technologies are relevant across the broader skin and wellness sector.

Where scope and applicability differ, I'll state this clearly.

Digital health does not exist outside regulation; it sits within it.

This work considers Australian regulatory frameworks, professional standards, and ethical obligations as part of the conversation.

That includes how clinicians can engage with technology responsibly, without increasing risk to themselves or their clients.

The goal is clarity, not fear.

The focus here is on principles, frameworks, and questions rather than promoting specific products.

Tools and platforms change quickly. Critical thinking and ethical evaluation last much longer.

Where examples are discussed, they are used to illustrate concepts, not to prescribe specific solutions.

AI may be used as a support tool to assist with research synthesis, clarity, and communication.

It is not used to generate clinical advice, make decisions, or replace professional judgement. All content is human-led, informed by validated research, and reviewed critically.

Transparency, trust and accountability are central to this approach.