Course

We want this course to help explain how you might benefit from digital tools and services.

This course is based on our Discover Digital Guide.

We hope this course will help you:

• use digital health and care to improve your own wellbeing or that of someone you support
• signpost people to digital tools, services and resources relating to self management, the NHS and Technology Enabled Care, and 
• protect yourself when using a digital tool, service or resource.

Who can use this course?

You can use this course yourself if you have little or no experience of digital tools.

There are many digital tools that can help with your health and wellbeing. They range from very simple tools (such as step counters) to very advanced machineries (such as those used in robotic surgery). 

Technology has helped us improve how we live, work and play, as well as how we look after ourselves and each other. 

This course focuses only on technologies that are available to us on an everyday basis. These could, in the right circumstances, benefit our health, care and wellbeing. 

Self management is a lot like self care. It is made up of the different actions and decisions you take to look after yourself. The only difference is that self management is talked about in the context of managing a long term condition.

The NHS offers a wide range of services depending on your needs. 

GP services (primary care services)

Some of these services you can access by going to your GP practice: 

• GP consultations
• routine health checks and 
• advice from a nurse or even a Community Links Practitioner in some cases.

You would need to travel to a hospital or a health clinic:

• a podiatry service, for example,
• eye care or 
• more specialised treatments. 

Online services 

There are some services which you can access online or through an app on your phone. 

These are called:

• digital services
• eHealth services or 
• digital health and care services. 

Technology enabled care refers to the use of telehealth, telecare and telemedicine. 

These services can help provide care that is convenient, accessible and cost-effective. They use technology to support people to live safely in their own homes. (NHS Inform) 

So Technology Enabled Care (TEC) is an umbrella term for the following: 

• Telehealth: technology that aims to help you with your health needs. 
• Telecare: technology that can help with your wider needs. 
• Telemedicine: technology that focuses on helping you take medicine correctly. 

Before you start using a tool to help you with your health, care and wellbeing, make sure that it is safe to do so.

• Check that the information the tool provides is from a trusted source. 
• Check that any activities it recommends are suitable for you. 

We would love to hear from you

Good luck and should you want to let us know how you got on, message us at DHCscot@alliancescotland.org.uk