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From promise to practice: digital health through the lens of neonatal care

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Digital health is no longer a future prospect, it is already embedded in clinical care. Yet its impact remains inconsistent. Bridging this gap between technological capability and clinical value is now a central challenge for health systems. The field of neonatology offers a critical test case, combining extreme physiological vulnerability, high-density multimodal data, and time-sensitive decision-making, where early clinical events and interventions shape outcomes across the lifespan. In this setting, large-scale implementation of remote multi-modality monitoring and tele-neurocritical care across national networks demonstrate that digitally enabled models can extend expertise and support more consistent high-quality care. In this Viewpoint, we argue for shifting from isolated technologies to integrated systems, where continuous, multimodal data enable actionable bedside decisions through aligned layers of intelligence, clinical interfaces, and enabling infrastructure. We further examine the challenges that accompany this transition and the limited inclusion of long-term outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations. We outline the governance conditions required for responsible and scalable implementation. The future of digital health will not be determined by technological sophistication alone, but by its ability to deliver equitable, durable improvements in patient outcomes. Digital innovation when embedded within structured systems in the neonatal environment can move from promise to practice.

Source: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas

DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2026.101600