Navigating Digital Health Innovation amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from the RESPIRE Digital Health Workshops

Aim: To equip the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (RESPIRE) partners, including researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and investors, with the knowledge and skills required for the rapid innovation, scaling, and sustainable implementation of digital health solutions. Context: The COVID-19 pandemic had prompted a healthcare paradigm shift with invention and adoption of many digital health innovations. However, scaling these innovations is a challenge, necessitating a structured approach to improve capacity and facilitate effective and sustainable implementation. Change Description and Rationale: A team, consisted of digital health experts, healthcare practitioners, and e-learning specialists formulated the content of a series of workshops on digital health innovation to be run over 8 weeks and to address issues related to implementation of and scaling up of digital health solutions. Strategy for Change: There were three key steps to the change strategy: (1) establishing a diverse faculty, (2) identifying scaling challenges and success factors, and (3) using an exemplar project for focused discussions. Prominent international industry and academic speakers were invited to the workshops to cover important topics including innovation, design, policy, regulatory issues, finance, and funding related to digital health innovation. Impact: The workshops had garnered positive responses from participants, with high satisfaction rates for content. This initiative had fostered discussions and collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Its impact on the implementation and sustainability of the exemplary project is still unknown. Lessons Learned: The workshops were a good starting point for digital health innovation. However, the programme was short and there was a lack of funding for the full implementation of the innovation. For the programme to be sustainable, it has to be adapted with input from stakeholders.