Download This Report Here: http://digihealth.info/dhimpact
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Traditionally, we have used investment data to understand the growth and evolution of the digital health market. However, while valuable, funding data, provides limited information about two other important measures of the digital health market’s strength: implementation and impact.
With thousands of organizations, startups, government agencies, universities and others testing, developing and commercializing digital solutions, improving our understanding of the market’s scope requires new data sources, analysis and metrics.
This quarterly report series satisfies these unmet needs.
Q4 2017/2018 Preview Report: digihealth impact trac - A Quarterly Review of the Global Digital Health Market's Strength and Impact
1. A Quarterly Review of the Global Digital Health
Market’s Overall Strength and Impact
Developed by Fard Johnmar, Futurist, Strategist and Researcher
A Digital Health Maven
Project Publication
digihealth impact trac
Q4 2017/2018 Trend Preview
2. Contents
2
About the Author || Page 3
Why digihealth impact trac? || Page 4
Data Source & Methodology || Page 6
Why the Global Digital Health
Market Strengthened During Q4 2017 || Pages 7 – 8
Overview: Key Q4 2017 Trends || Page 9
Ecosystem Analysis: Scope || Pages 10 - 11
Ecosystem Analysis: Momentum || Page 12
Ecosystem Analysis: Investments || Page 13
Ecosystem Analysis: Connections || Page 14
Trends That Will Matter in 2018 || Pages 15 – 17
About Enspektos and the
Digital Health Maven Project || Page 19
Additional Notes || Page 20
digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2018
digihealth impact trac
Q4 2017/2018 Trend Preview
3. About the Author
Fard Johnmar is founder and president of the noted
innovation consultancy Enspektos.
Fard is a nearly 20-year global health industry veteran
and has spent nearly 13 in the digital health arena. He
has advised executives, entrepreneurs, medical
professionals and others focused on developing
groundbreaking digital health tools, technologies,
products and services at startups and large organizations
such as Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Sanofi, the CDC
and the Canadian government.
In addition to speaking regularly about digital innovation
trends to audiences globally, Fard and his work have
been featured in numerous media outlets, including the
Los Angeles Times, NPR and Forbes. He is also a fellow
at the Columbia University-affiliated HITLAB.
Fard is the co-author of the #1 global bestseller, ePatient
2015: 15 Surprising Trends Changing Healthcare, which
explores the impact of digital technologies on health and
well-being. He also holds a U.S. patent for a unique
analytics engine that measures the impact of digital
content exposure on health behavior change.
Learn more about Fard at www.fardjohnmar.com.
Fard Johnmar
Futurist | Strategist
Researcher | Inventor
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4. Why digihealth impact trac?
In Q3 2017, Enspektos released the first edition of digihealth impact trac, a
quarterly report series designed to improve understanding of how organizations,
startups, government agencies, universities and others are testing, developing and
commercializing digital solutions globally. This research compliments and expands
upon quarterly reports produced by StartUp Health, Rock Health and other
organizations focusing on U.S. and global digital health investment activity.
While investment data is beneficial, it provides limited information about two
important measures of the digital health market’s strength: implementation and
impact. Improving our understanding of the market’s scope requires investigating:
• Where people are focused from an implementation perspective: This can
include looking at what technologies are receiving significant attention,
therapeutic categories of greatest interest and more
• How digital technologies are impacting health, well-being, workflows and
other factors: While the jury is still out about whether many digital solutions
will have positive benefits on health outcomes, early evidence is emerging that
some technologies including virtual reality and mobile, may have significant
health benefits
The digihealth impact trac quarterly report series can deepen our
understanding of and encourage more nuanced analysis about digital health’s
global importance and influence.
Note: In addition to focusing on Q4 2017 digital health themes, this
edition of digihealth impact trac provides insights into key trends that will be
important for health industry stakeholders to consider throughout 2018.
4 digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2018
5. How to Download This Report
This digihealth impact trac
quarterly report is not
available for download on
SlideShare.
Access the PDF of this publication via the
Digital Health Maven Project’s Website.
In addition to downloading this valuable resource,
you’ll have access to numerous free innovation
tools, including courses, Webinars and videos.
You’ll also be notified when new quarterly
digihealth impact trac reports are released.
Click the button below to get started.
Click Here to Download This Report
5 digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2018
6. Data Source & Methodology
Enspektos has developed the world’s largest source of real-time digital health and emerging
technology market data. For each report, we analyze this industry-leading data set using a unique
methodology designed to aid the rapid and systematic analysis of health innovation ecosystems.
6
Data Source Methodology
Data in this report was sourced
from the Digihealth Informer real-time
database. This is an intelligence and
productivity platform with more than 4.5
million data points focusing on the
global digital and emerging technology
market, including:
• Market Events: Product releases,
mergers, acquisitions, pilots and
other data on digital and emerging
technology implementation
• Investment Activity: Funding
events, investors and more
• Partnerships, Pilots and
Collaborations: Extensive
contextual data on how
organizations, startups and others
are implementing digital
technologies in health and medicine
Scope Momentum
$
InvestmentsConnections
Health Technology Ecosystem
Analysis Method: 4 Areas of Focus
Global digital and emerging technology
market data collected via DigiHealth Informer
during Q4 2017 and Q4 2016 was examined
(via search queries) using the Health
Technology Ecosystem Analysis Methodology.
This Enspektos-developed method focuses on
four key areas that define innovation
ecosystems: scope (global reach), momentum
(regional activity volume), investments and
connections (partnerships, etc.).
Source: Enspektos, LLC
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7. The Global Digital Health Market
Strengthened in Q4 2017
77 digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2018
Infrastructure Focus
Methodology and Definitions: For this analysis (except for the financial strength metric), searches of the DigiHealth Informer
database were conducted for the following keywords during the Q4 2017 and Q4 2016 time frames:
• Infrastructure Focus: References to data interoperability and analytics
(Keywords: digital health interoperability; digital health analytics)
• Regional Diversity: Number of countries referenced as engaging in digital health innovation
(Keyword: digital health)
• Health Outcomes Research Emphasis: References to outcomes research (clinical and non-clinical) activities
(Keywords: digital health outcomes)
• Financial Strength: Global digital health funding levels (as measured by StartUp Health)
Higher
Lower
No Change
Interoperability, Analy7cs References
(vs. Q4 2016)
Regional Diversity
Higher
Lower
No Change
Country-Specific Innova7on References
(vs. Q4 2016)
Health Outcomes Emphasis
Higher
Lower
No Change
Health Outcomes Research References
(vs. Q4 2016)
Stronger
Weaker
No Change
Total Global Investment Volume
(vs. Q4 2016)
Financial Strength
Global Digital Health Strength Index (Q4 2017 vs. Q4 2016): Stronger
Source: Enspektos, LLC
8. Why Did the Global Digital Health
Market Strengthen During Q4 2017?
8
The Global Digital Health Strength Index: Q4 2017
Traditionally, the strength of the digital health market has been measured by
the level of investment dollars flowing into startups and other firms. While financial
strength is a valuable metric, it can provide an incomplete picture of overall market
potential. Other factors, specifically whether there is a focus on measuring digital
health-related outcomes, improving data infrastructure and global innovation diffusion,
also have a significant impact on whether digital technologies are (and will be)
successful.
To improve understanding of digital health’s impact and scope we created the
Global Digital Health Strength Index (displayed on the previous page) in Q3 2017.
Analysis of market landscape data collected via the DigiHealth Informer platform
indicates that in Q4 2017 (versus Q4 2016) the digital health market strengthened in
the following areas:
• Infrastructure: Compared to Q4 2016, there was a greater global emphasis on
improving interoperability and analytics capabilities in order to derive meaningful
insights from genomic, clinical and other Big Health Data.
• Regional Diversity: The spread of digital innovation to health ecosystems across
Asia, Southern Europe and other regions is accelerating.
• Health Outcomes Emphasis: We saw a significant jump in references in the
digital health literature to outcomes research. Clearly health industry stakeholders
are increasingly looking at whether digital solutions deliver clinical, economic and
quality of life benefits across various populations.
• Financial Strength: StartUp Health reported record-breaking Q4 2017 investment
numbers in its 2017 Year End Report (link). Q4 2017 investments surpassed $2
billion across 227 deals compared to $1.76 billion in investments during Q4 2016.
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9. Overview: Key Q4 2017 Digital Health Trends
9
Telemedicine’s
Transforma0ve Impact
Globally, telemedicine
solu2ons are having a
major impact on access to
care, health spending and
the prac2ce of medicine.
Thinking Global is Vital
Regional digital health
innova2on ac2vity is
accelera2ng.
Understanding how
health technologies are
being deployed in
Europe, Asia and other
locales is crucial.
Investment Winners:
Companies With Global
Reach
Maturing companies with
the poten2al to succeed
in mul2ple markets are
capturing investment
dollars.
Partnerships Focus on
Tech Accelera0on
New partnerships
focused on digital
therapeu2cs and other
emerging technologies
may help drive global
adop2on and research.
Scope Momentum
Connections
$
Investments
What were the major digital health trends and themes
that drove interest and attention during Q4 2017? As
illustrated in the graphic below, during this period,
telemedicine’s global impact became more apparent, regional
(ex-U.S.) innovation activity accelerated in importance,
maturing companies with global reach captured investment
dollars and partnerships were formed to drive emerging
technology adoption.
700,235
+22% from Q3 2017
*Note: Between 70-80 percent of DigiHealth Informer data is focused on health and medical innovation. Non-health data
on mobile, virtual reality, blockchain and other sectors is tracked to monitor their evolution and potential impact on health.
Source: Enspektos, LLC
9 digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2018
The number of digital and emerging
technology-related social posts, news
headlines and full-text articles collected
via DigiHealth Informer during Q4 2017.*
10. What was the breadth of innovation focus
(diseases, technology areas, etc.)?
Scope
Technology Major Themes and Market Events Related to Technology Area
(Referenced in Ar0cles/Social Posts Collected During Q4 2017)
Mobile/Mobile Health • Majority of pa2ents interested in using mobile for health communica2on
• Many apps developed during 2017, but concerns persist about quality
• The strong (and growing) link between mobile and telemedicine solu2ons
Ar0ficial Intelligence/
Machine Learning
• The use of machine learning in electronic medical records is accelera2ng
• The shiK from hype to real-world solu2ons in health-focused AI
Telemedicine • Telemedicine’s surge toward increased global adop2on
• Telemedicine is transforming how physicians interact with pa2ents: i.e.,
from bedside to ‘Webside’ manner
• The poten2al nega2ve impacts of U.S. net neutrality’s repeal on
telemedicine
Big Data • Prepara2on for the EU’s new data privacy regula2ons (to be implemented
in 2018) and worries about how it will impact health Big Data
• How major players, including CVS Health and Epic are using Big Data to
tackle rising drug costs in the U.S.
Cloud Compu0ng • Amazon is working with Cerner on a cloud-based popula2on health
solu2on
• Royal Phillips buys cloud-based health management company VitalHealth,
another indica2on of how health industry players are ac2vely acquiring
technology solu2ons to boost their profitability, products and services
Top Referenced Technologies: Q4 2017
Below are insights about the most discussed and referenced technologies in the digital
health online literature during Q4 2017 along with major themes associated with each.
To perform this analysis, DigiHealth Informer was used to identify the top innovations (and themes related to
them) referenced in full-text, news and social digital content collected from October 1 to December 31, 2017.
Source: Enspektos, LLC
Ecosystem Analysis
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11. What was the breadth of innovation focus
(diseases, technology areas, etc.)?
Scope
Disease/Condi0on Top Technologies Being Used for Disease Management/Diagnosis
(Referenced in Ar0cles Collected During Q4 2017)
1. Diabetes 1. Mobile/Smartphones
2. Ar2ficial Intelligence/Machine Learning*
3. Digital Therapeu2cs
2. Cancer 1. Mobile/Mobile Health
2. Ar2ficial Intelligence*
3. Telemedicine*
4. Precision Medicine
3. Aging 1. Mobile
2. Internet and IoT Technologies*
3. Social Media*
4. Wearables
5. Ar2ficial Intelligence
4. Depression 1. Smartphones*
2. Mobile
3. Adherence Technologies*
4. Ar2ficial Intelligence/Machine Learning*
5. Asthma 1. Mobile/Mobile Health
2. Sensors
3. Adherence Technologies
4. Wearables
5. Digital Therapeu2cs
Top Referenced Diseases/Conditions: Q4 2017
Below is a listing of the most discussed and referenced diseases or conditions in the
digital health online literature during Q4 2017. Notably, artificial intelligence,
telemedicine and Internet of Things technologies rose in prominence across several
disease areas between Q3 and Q4 2017.
To perform this analysis, we conducted a search of full text articles in the DigiHealth Informer database, using the keyword
“digital health” (and top diseases/conditions), collected between October 1 and December 31, 2017.
Source: Enspektos, LLC
Ecosystem Analysis
*These technologies/innovations rose in prominence between Q3 and Q4 2017.
11 digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2017
12. Digital health innovations continue to diffuse across Asia, Africa and India.
Momentum
The map at the left shows the top
referenced countries in articles
focusing on digital health collected by
DigiHealth Informer in Q4 2017. During
this period, global innovation activity
continued to accelerate across
Southern Europe, Africa and India.
Below are some of the themes
that attracted discussion and attention
during Q4 in key global health markets.
Top Referenced Geographic Locations in Articles
Related to Digital Health: Q4 2017
Country Key Country-Related Digital Health Events: Q4 2017
Singapore
• Singapore Ministry of Health launches Healthhub Track, which
provides 6 million ci2zens with free access to digital therapeu2cs
technology.
Spain
• Spain’s Barcelona has become one of Europe’s top five
technology hubs. Also, the country boasts an increasing number
of well-regarded accelerators run by Bayer and other
organiza2ons.
South Africa
• Long-standing South African Na2onal Department of Health
mobile ini2a2ve MomConnect integrates Whatsapp into the
placorm and drives a 50% increase in user engagement.
Israel
• U.S.-based healthcare incubator and innova2on accelerator
MATTER partners with Israel-based Sheba Medical Center.
Startups will have the opportunity to pilot their technologies at
Sheba and gain customers throughout the country.
Source: DigiHealth Informer Platform, Enspektos, LLC
Source: Enspektos, LLC
Ecosystem Analysis
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13. Where were investors focusing their resources?
$
Investments
Global digital health investment activity continues to accelerate
As discussed in the Q3 2017 edition of digihealth impact trac, regional investors in
Europe, Asia and other locations have become more comfortable with aggressive
investments in digital health companies — especially those that have the ability to
succeed in multiple markets. Below are sample digital health investments that illustrate
some of the global scope of digital health investment activity during Q4. (This list
includes firms that have global potential.)
Company Amount Company Focus Region
Biofourmis $5 M
Remote Pa2ent
Monitoring Singapore
DoctoLib
$42 M Medical Scheduling
France
Ada Health $49 M
AI-Aided Triage
and Diagnosis Germany
DocsApp $5.5 M Gene2c Diagnosis
India
Recursion
Pharmaceu0cals
$60 M
AI-Aided Drug
Discovery
United States
Funding activity accessed via search of social posts/news headlines added to the DigiHealth Informer database
between October 1 and December 31, 2017. Keywords: Raise, Funding, Series A
Source: Enspektos, LLC
Ecosystem Analysis
13 digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2018
14. 14
Where were health organizations, startups, technology firms
and others forging partnerships and collaborations?
Connections
Frequently-Referenced Partnership Activity: Q4 2017
Below is an Innovation Map (generated via DigiHealth Informer) showcasing key partnerships that
received attention during Q4 2017.
Partnerships continue to be key in digital health, with new alliances focusing on
driving adoption and research related to digital therapeutics and other emerging
innovations.
The above Innovation Map was generated via DigiHealth Informer. The platform automatically analyzed social posts and news headlines to
identify the most persistently referenced content related to digital health partnership-related activity between October 1 and December. 31,
2017.
Source: Enspektos, LLC
Ecosystem Analysis
14 digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2018
15. What trends should industry players watch and capitalize on during 2018?
Momentum
Source: Enspektos, LLC
Trends That Will Matter in 2018
Throughout 2017 we have seen a range of issues, innovations and technologies either
gain in prominence or solidify their importance to the global digital health ecosystem. Below
are five key trends that were identified via analysis of the more than 1.9 million data points
collected via the DigiHealth Informer platform in 2017 that will be important during 2018.
Advances in artificial intelligence,
robotics, the Internet of Voice and
related technologies accelerate
the development of technologies
that are more responsive,
empathetic and human-like,
which benefits elder care,
mental health and other areas.
Empathetic Health
Interfaces Mature
Policies and Regulations
Drive & Threaten Innovation
While the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration pushes to speed
digital health innovation,
uncertainty persists re: the
impact of net neutrality's repeal
and the EU's General Data
Protection Regulations.
Mobile has become the default
technology embedded into tools
focused on patient engagement,
compliance, clinical trials and
other areas. Efforts to improve
the vetting and review of mobile
applications further drive
mobile's central role in health.
Mobile Health = Healthcare
=
With hospital executives, payers
and others considering or
deploying blockchain solutions,
innovators recognize this
technology has great potential
in healthcare. Blockchain
use cases diversify into anti-
counterfeiting, health data
marketplaces and other areas.
Blockchain Health
Ecosystem Diversifies
The rise of passive biometric and
digital tracking technologies,
improved data analysis tools and
related innovations transform
patient-generated data into a
high-value resource.Patient-Generated
Data Comes of Age
Key Digital Health Trends to Watch: 2018
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16. 16
What trends should industry players watch and capitalize on during 2018?
Momentum
Source: Enspektos, LLC
Trends That Will Matter in 2018
Empathetic Health
Interfaces Mature
Policies and Regulations
Drive & Threaten Innovation
Mobile Health = Healthcare
=
Empathe0c Interfaces: Key Trend Drivers and Impacts
As illustrated during CES 2018, ar2ficial intelligence-enhanced, voice-enabled
technologies developed by Amazon, Google, Samsung and others are taking center
stage due to growing consumer adop2on and ease of use. These innova2ons are
having an impact on healthcare as voice assistants, chatbots and robots leverage these
technologies to begin to shape the treatment of depression, improve aging, accelerate
rehabilita2on and more.
Policy and Regula0on: Key Trend Drivers and Impacts
Ongoing concerns about data privacy, digital health device/soKware quality and
innova2on roadblocks are causing legislators and regulators to take steps to influence
the digital health market. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administra2on has
been working to provide innovators with clarity about how digital tools will be
regulated. However, in Europe, some view the upcoming General Data Protec2on
Regula2ons as a poten2al barrier to innova2on, data liquidly and quality.
Mobile Health: Key Trend Drivers and Impacts
Despite concerns about the quality of mobile health applica2ons, mobile technologies
have clearly established their central role in the global health ecosystem. Across
diabetes, mental health, asthma and many other condi2ons, mobile is the most
frequently-referenced and u2lized technology. In many respects mobile health is
becoming healthcare, as its importance con2nues to rise across numerous use cases,
industry segments and therapeu2c categories.
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17. 17
What trends should industry players watch and capitalize on during 2018?
Momentum
Source: Enspektos, LLC
Trends That Will Matter in 2018
Blockchain and Health: Key Trend Drivers and Impacts
Currently, blockchain is one of the most an2cipated and discussed technologies of the
moment. Also, health execu2ves, payers and others are either considering or
deploying blockchain-based solu2ons.
During 2018 the blockchain ecosystem may evolve in two ways. First, many blockchain
products and services will be deployed to solve long-standing issues in healthcare, but
fail because they are simply adding a blockchain layer to exis2ng technologies and
solu2ons that have not performed well in the past. In 2018 people will begin to look
past the hype and recognize that blockchain is far from a cure-all.
Second, health organiza2ons and innovators will find specific areas where blockchain
not only performs well, but adequately solves or accounts for the associated adop2on,
privacy, security and interoperability issues associated with its deployment. Key areas
to watch in blockchain include electronic medical records, interoperability, data
marketplaces, ar2ficial intelligence and supply chain management.
Pa0ent-Generated Data: Key Trend Drivers and Impacts
Tradi2onally, pa2ent-generated health data has had a poor reputa2on because it was
difficult to collect, prone to inaccuracies and of limited clinical relevance. Today, these
concerns are being addressed partly due to innova2ons such as (ever-cheaper) sensors
embedded into tamoos, wearables, patches and other devices.
During 2018, pa2ent-generated data will increase in importance in the area of clinical
trials and popula2on health. And, advances in data analy2cs will help transform the
flood of data from wearables and other devices from a liability into an asset.
Blockchain Health
Ecosystem Diversifies
Patient-Generated
Data Comes of Age
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18. The trends presented in
this report represent only
the tip of the digital
health iceberg. Want to
better understand the
market forces impacting
your specific product,
service, company or
industry? Here’s how.
Scope Momentum
$
InvestmentsConnections
Health Technology Ecosystem
Analysis Method: 4 Areas of Focus
What Next: Access Personalized Analysis & Insights
Data in this report is from Digihealth
Informer. This platform features the
world’s largest data set on digital and
emerging technologies in health,
including funding, tech and partnerships.
Interested in understanding how and why
these and other trends matter to your
specific company, sub-sector and more?
Get in contact to book a customized and
insightful live talk.
Learn More & Request Demo Book Speaking Engagement
18 digihealth impact trac | Q4 2017 | published january 30, 2018
19. About Enspektos and the
Digital Health Maven Project
Enspektos is a globally respected innovation consultancy.
Founded in 2005, Enspektos delivers technology, strategy, analysis and non-obvious
insights to executives, entrepreneurs, health professionals, government officials and
others globally focused on using digital and emerging technologies to re-shape health.
Learn more about Enspektos at www.enspektos.com.
A global initiative supporting and accelerating digital innovation in health.
Founded in 2014 by Enspektos, the Digital Health Maven Project delivers research,
education, events, training and more to support digital innovation in health. To date, the
project’s outputs have reached and benefited more than 40,000 people globally. Learn
more about the Project at www.digitalhealthmaven.com.
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20. Digital Health Definition: Enspektos defines digital
health as the use of multiple technologies (software,
analytics, genomics, devices, etc.) to track, improve,
support and modify health. Key digital health
technology centers include mobile, social media, Big
Data and wearables.
Data Sources: Insights featured in this report are
based on publicly available social and news data
published during Q4 2017 and Q4 2016.
Data Reliability: Enspektos makes every effort to
ensure that data is from reliable and reputable online
sources. However, we cannot warrant the ultimate
reliability and validity of data obtained via our
automated data collection and processing techniques.
Use of Data: This report is provided for informational
purposes and was prepared in good faith on the basis
of public information available at the time of
publication without independent verification.
Enspektos does not guarantee or warrant the reliability
or completeness of the data nor its usefulness in
achieving any particular purposes. Enspektos shall not
be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense
incurred by reason of any persons use or reliance on
this report. This report is a proprietary aggregation of
publicly available data and shall not be reproduced
without the written consent of Enspektos, LLC.
Learn more about Enspektos at www.enspektos.com.
Additional Notes
®