Digital Twins for Managing Health Care Systems: Rapid Literature Review
BackgroundAlthough most digital twin (DT) applications for health care have emerged in precision medicine, DTs can potentially support the overall health care process. DTs (twinned systems, processes, and products) can be used to optimize flows, improve performance, improve h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2022/8/e37641 |
| _version_ | 1797734772355629056 |
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| author | Safa Elkefi Onur Asan |
| author_facet | Safa Elkefi Onur Asan |
| author_sort | Safa Elkefi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundAlthough most digital twin (DT) applications for health care have emerged in precision medicine, DTs can potentially support the overall health care process. DTs (twinned systems, processes, and products) can be used to optimize flows, improve performance, improve health outcomes, and improve the experiences of patients, doctors, and other stakeholders with minimal risk.
ObjectiveThis paper aims to review applications of DT systems, products, and processes as well as analyze the potential of these applications for improving health care management and the challenges associated with this emerging technology.
MethodsWe performed a rapid review of the literature and reported available studies on DTs and their applications in health care management. We searched 5 databases for studies published between January 2002 and January 2022 and included peer-reviewed studies written in English. We excluded studies reporting DT usage to support health care practice (organ transplant, precision medicine, etc). Studies were analyzed based on their contribution toward DT technology to improve user experience in health care from human factors and systems engineering perspectives, accounting for the type of impact (product, process, or performance/system level). Challenges related to the adoption of DTs were also summarized.
ResultsThe DT-related studies aimed at managing health care systems have been growing over time from 0 studies in 2002 to 17 in 2022, with 7 published in 2021 (N=17 studies). The findings reported on applications categorized by DT type (system: n=8; process: n=5; product: n=4) and their contributions or functions. We identified 4 main functions of DTs in health care management including safety management (n=3), information management (n=2), health management and well-being promotion (n=3), and operational control (n=9). DTs used in health care systems management have the potential to avoid unintended or unexpected harm to people during the provision of health care processes. They also can help identify crisis-related threats to a system and control the impacts. In addition, DTs ensure privacy, security, and real-time information access to all stakeholders. Furthermore, they are beneficial in empowering self-care abilities by enabling health management practices and providing high system efficiency levels by ensuring that health care facilities run smoothly and offer high-quality care to every patient.
ConclusionsThe use of DTs for health care systems management is an emerging topic. This can be seen in the limited literature supporting this technology. However, DTs are increasingly being used to ensure patient safety and well-being in an organized system. Thus, further studies aiming to address the challenges of health care systems challenges and improve their performance should investigate the potential of DT technology. In addition, such technologies should embed human factors and ergonomics principles to ensure better design and more successful impact on patient and doctor experiences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:49:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2e150ac332d4473ca6c7f2d03514bc62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:49:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-2e150ac332d4473ca6c7f2d03514bc622023-08-28T22:53:36ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712022-08-01248e3764110.2196/37641Digital Twins for Managing Health Care Systems: Rapid Literature ReviewSafa Elkefihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4293-0404Onur Asanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9239-3723 BackgroundAlthough most digital twin (DT) applications for health care have emerged in precision medicine, DTs can potentially support the overall health care process. DTs (twinned systems, processes, and products) can be used to optimize flows, improve performance, improve health outcomes, and improve the experiences of patients, doctors, and other stakeholders with minimal risk. ObjectiveThis paper aims to review applications of DT systems, products, and processes as well as analyze the potential of these applications for improving health care management and the challenges associated with this emerging technology. MethodsWe performed a rapid review of the literature and reported available studies on DTs and their applications in health care management. We searched 5 databases for studies published between January 2002 and January 2022 and included peer-reviewed studies written in English. We excluded studies reporting DT usage to support health care practice (organ transplant, precision medicine, etc). Studies were analyzed based on their contribution toward DT technology to improve user experience in health care from human factors and systems engineering perspectives, accounting for the type of impact (product, process, or performance/system level). Challenges related to the adoption of DTs were also summarized. ResultsThe DT-related studies aimed at managing health care systems have been growing over time from 0 studies in 2002 to 17 in 2022, with 7 published in 2021 (N=17 studies). The findings reported on applications categorized by DT type (system: n=8; process: n=5; product: n=4) and their contributions or functions. We identified 4 main functions of DTs in health care management including safety management (n=3), information management (n=2), health management and well-being promotion (n=3), and operational control (n=9). DTs used in health care systems management have the potential to avoid unintended or unexpected harm to people during the provision of health care processes. They also can help identify crisis-related threats to a system and control the impacts. In addition, DTs ensure privacy, security, and real-time information access to all stakeholders. Furthermore, they are beneficial in empowering self-care abilities by enabling health management practices and providing high system efficiency levels by ensuring that health care facilities run smoothly and offer high-quality care to every patient. ConclusionsThe use of DTs for health care systems management is an emerging topic. This can be seen in the limited literature supporting this technology. However, DTs are increasingly being used to ensure patient safety and well-being in an organized system. Thus, further studies aiming to address the challenges of health care systems challenges and improve their performance should investigate the potential of DT technology. In addition, such technologies should embed human factors and ergonomics principles to ensure better design and more successful impact on patient and doctor experiences.https://www.jmir.org/2022/8/e37641 |
| spellingShingle | Safa Elkefi Onur Asan Digital Twins for Managing Health Care Systems: Rapid Literature Review Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Digital Twins for Managing Health Care Systems: Rapid Literature Review |
| title_full | Digital Twins for Managing Health Care Systems: Rapid Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | Digital Twins for Managing Health Care Systems: Rapid Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital Twins for Managing Health Care Systems: Rapid Literature Review |
| title_short | Digital Twins for Managing Health Care Systems: Rapid Literature Review |
| title_sort | digital twins for managing health care systems rapid literature review |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2022/8/e37641 |
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