Technology-Enabled Care: Integrating Multidisciplinary Care in Parkinson's Disease Through Digital Technology

• Main Authors: Raquel Luis-Martínez, Mariana H. G. Monje, Angelo Antonini, Álvaro Sánchez-Ferro, Tiago A. Mestre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-10-01
• Series: Frontiers in Neurology
• Subjects: Parkinson's disease; technology; multidisciplinary care model; home care (HC); rehabilitation
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2020.575975/full

Parkinson's disease (PD) management requires the involvement of movement disorders experts, other medical specialists, and allied health professionals. Traditionally, multispecialty care has been implemented in the form of a multidisciplinary center, with an inconsistent clinical benefit and health economic impact. With the current capabilities of digital technologies, multispecialty care can be reshaped to reach a broader community of people with PD in their home and community. Digital technologies have the potential to connect patients with the care team beyond the traditional sparse clinical visit, fostering care continuity and accessibility. For example, video conferencing systems can enable the remote delivery of multispecialty care. With big data analyses, wearable and non-wearable technologies using artificial intelligence can enable the remote assessment of patients' conditions in their natural home environment, promoting a more comprehensive clinical evaluation and empowering patients to monitor their disease. These advances have been defined as technology-enabled care (TEC). We present examples of TEC under development and describe the potential challenges to achieve a full integration of technology to address complex care needs in PD.