Over the last decade, mobile technology in healthcare – otherwise known as “mHealth” – has rapidly thrived. From mobile phones and tablets to smartwatches and other smart devices that connect doctors and remote patients, mobile healthcare is helping to solve access, clinical data collection and communication problems in a variety of ways.
One of the reasons behind mHealth’s rapid growth is the adoption rate of mobile devices in the United States. According to a report from the Pew Research Center, 96 percent of Americans own a mobile phone and 81 percent of these are smartphones.
In line with this, mobile health technology is fast becoming the patient-preferred way to log in to patient portals, access home healthcare services easily, launch telehealth visits, track their steps and manage their medications.
Plus, the fact that patients have driven the revolution of mHealth platforms and applications makes it more likely that they will comply when their doctors and healthcare providers prescribe mobile health apps as part of their care and treatment.
How is Mobile Health Changing the Healthcare Industry?
One of the most notable impacts of mHealth is it gives patients immediate access to healthcare providers. Unlike traditional and inefficient telephone access to doctors and healthcare organizations, mHealth technologies enable patients to quickly schedule appointments, send secure messages and get in touch with doctors 24/7.
Telemedicine is one of the fastest ways patients are using mobile health apps on their phones. Patients are big fans of its convenience; you don’t have to travel to the doctor’s office or take time off work for the sake of your health. Many healthcare institutions are responding to the growing demand by offering telemedicine visits.
Mobile health technology also improves adherence to medication. Once patients leave the hospital, it’s difficult to determine or control how they take their medication. In some cases, having them pick up their medication is already a struggle. Poor adherence to medication is a significant cause behind the poor management of chronic conditions. It can also result in poor outcomes and hospital readmission.
mHealth technology improves all of these by providing patients with features like refill reminders, as well as educational information that encourages them to take their medication properly.
Other ways mHealth is changing healthcare include:
Why Do These Matter?
The move from paper-based medical records to mobile technologies is a big step forward to consolidating and centralizing clinical information. mHealth has fueled changes that improved the world of healthcare.
Consider the following:
Patient care is an easier and more streamlined process today, thanks to the power of mHealth. Tomorrow looks brighter as mHealth continues to advance in terms of innovations.
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