Let’s explore some of the benefits and implications of using mobile health technology.
Technology, and particularly, personal mobile devices, are ubiquitous in our modern society. Naturally, innovators have tried to use this to peoples’ health advantage. In recent years, we’ve seen plenty of mobile health technology being rolled out to the public, with generally positive outcomes. Mobile health technology encompasses consumer-targeted technologies and products, including wearable devices, smartphones, and mobile applications. These all help the user monitor and record their health data, such as measuring heart rate or tracking weight changes, just to name a few examples. Let’s explore some of the benefits and implications of using mobile health technology.
Supplement Telehealth
Your first impression of mobile health technology may remind you of telehealth. But in fact, mobile health technology and telehealth technology are different things working towards similar efforts. Telehealth refers to the use of technologies to facilitate long-distance or remote clinical healthcare, including supporting clinician-to-patient, clinician-to-clinician, and patient-to-patient interactions. In contrast, mobile health tech focuses mostly on patients’ interactions with themselves since the technology is for self data collection and management. Of course, the self-collected data can be shared with healthcare providers with the user’s permission.
Support Remote Patient Monitoring
It used to be quite difficult for healthcare providers to monitor and manage patient health if they weren’t in direct care of the professional within a healthcare setting. These mobile devices make remote care possible and quite accessible. Patients can self-report their conditions or have their collected data sent over to their doctor for review. Most smart watches, fitness trackers, and other types of wearable devices can capture information like weight, heart rate, blood pressure, sleeping patterns, etc. Further, devices can work in conjunction with secure applications on smart devices. This makes it easy to report dietary changes, symptoms, medication intake, etc.
Mobile health technology can especially benefit those trying to manage chronic health conditions, or ensure medication compliance. Chronic conditions need constant monitoring and reassessment for doctors to have a good understanding of the patient’s progression and adjust treatment plans accordingly. Medications can be easy to forget or have adverse effects if taken incorrectly. Devices that help patients remember their medication or help them report their drug intake can help doctors more quickly identify any issues.
Increase Patient Engagement
All in all, mobile health technology puts the tools and resources for patients to take control of their health. These types of wearable devices and self-reporting tools make a patient more conscious of their behaviors that impact their well-being. In most cases, it encourages patients to make better choices for themselves, keeps their healthcare providers informed, and encourages the user to seek out medical attention sooner than later if they discover something out of the ordinary.
Healthcare IT Services and Solutions from Audley Consulting Group
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