One Digital Health: Leaping Towards Sustainable Innovation for Aquatic Ecosystems and Beyond
At the heart of One Digital Health (ODH) is a simple truth: our digital advancements must be both sustainable and responsible. In our paper, “The Need for Green and Responsible Medical Informatics and Digital Health: Looking Forward with One Digital Health” [1], we emphasize eco-friendly practices in medical informatics and digital health. This means everything from designing energy-efficient systems to optimizing algorithms that use fewer computer resources. This commitment to “green by design” will significantly shrink the ecological footprint of health technologies.
ODH directly benefits our shared water resources in important ways:
- Eco-Conscious Education: We’re training future healthcare professionals and the public to choose digital health solutions with the least environmental impact.
- Responsible Industry: We’re pushing the healthcare industry to develop systems and products that cause the smallest possible harm to the environment throughout their entire lifecycle.
- Environmental Monitoring: We’re using digital tools to monitor aquatic environments for risks like antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR often starts with human and animal waste, impacts water systems, and then circles back to us.
One Digital Health aims to give everyone a clear framework to contribute to and benefit from advancements in health and ecological challenges. By blending digital innovation with a deep commitment to protecting our environment, ODH offers a powerful roadmap for a healthier future for all, especially for our precious aquatic ecosystems.
From OneAquaHealth’s perspective, safeguarding aquatic ecosystems is crucial. It doesn’t just protect the environment; it also improves how we monitor human health. When we recognize how connected our ecosystems and human health are, we can put more effective strategies in place that benefit both.
Author(s): Arriel Benis, Holon Institute of Technology
Resources:
[1] Benis A, Tamburis O. The Need for Green and Responsible Medical Informatics and Digital Health: Looking Forward with One Digital Health. Yearb Med Inform. 2023 Aug;32(1):7-9. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1768717. Epub 2023 Jul 6. PMID: 37414027; PMCID: PMC10751118.