National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines digital health as the use of digital, mobile and wireless technologies to support the achievement of health objectives. Digital health includes the general use of information and communication technologies for health as well as advanced technologies for managing data and information such as artificial intelligence and genomics.

Digital health is a critical part of any modern healthcare industry and its adoption is key to improving patient care outcomes, improving clinical utility, and increasing sustainability of the Australian healthcare system. The evolution of technology in healthcare also requires a specialised workforce who understand and realise the significance of socio-technical dimensions in digital health implementations.

The pressing need for recognised digital heath training and education is supported by Australia’s National Digital Health Strategy – Safe, Seamless, and Secure. The Australian Digital Health Agency is tasked with implementing the strategy, including the ‘Workforce and Education’ priority to support a “workforce confidently using digital health technologies to deliver health and care”. The stakeholder consultation that informed the Workforce and Education priority identified that healthcare professionals want more support in learning how to maximise the benefits of digital health tools and services.

The Agency has committed to collaborating with governments, care providers, and partners in workforce education so that all healthcare professionals have access to resources that will support them in the confident and efficient use of digital health. In addition, the strategy proposes rapid promotion of a network of clinician digital health leaders and champions across Australia.

To address this need for the nursing and midwifery workforce, the Agency initiated the development of the National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework.