Unlocking the eHealth professionals' career pathways: A case of Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Background: During the past two decades, various sectors and industries have undergone digital transformation. Healthcare is poised to make a full transformation in the near future. Although steps have been taken toward creating an infrastructure for digital health in the Middle East, as it stands, digital health is still an emerging field here.

A multi-perspective approach to developing the Saudi Health Informatics Competency Framework.

Background: Determining the key sets of competencies necessary for a Health Informatics (HI) professional to practice effectively either solo or as a member of a multidisciplinary team has been challenging for the regulator and registration body responsible for the healthcare workforce in Saudi Arabia, which is the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS).

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a HI competency framework to guide SCFHS to introduce a HI certification program that meets local healthcare needs and is aligned with the national digital health transformation strategy.

Methodology: A two-phase mixed methods approach was used in this study.

Digital Response During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The first case of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia was confirmed on March 3, 2020. Saudi Arabia, like many other countries worldwide, implemented lockdown of most public and private services in response to the pandemic and established population movement restrictions nationwide. With the implementation of these strict mitigation regulations, technology and digital solutions have enabled the provision of essential services.

Developing a Saudi Health Informatics Competency Framework: A Comparative Assessment.

In 2018, the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) created a national working group composed of key health informatics (HI) professionals, researchers and educators tasked with the development of a draft competency framework for Saudi HI professionals. Over an eight-month period, the research group collected data obtained from literature sources (both academic and grey), international competency standards, participant surveys, focus groups, and expert panel reviews. Through multiple rounds of discussions and graphic visualisation of the information collected using Microsoft PowerPoint and flip charts, the data were summarised and a visual representation of the proposed SHICF was developed.