By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    email marketing in healthcare
    Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing in Healthcare
    October 26, 2023
    healthcare claims
    The Role of Communication in Resolving Complex Workers’ Compensation Claims in Healthcare Settings
    September 22, 2024
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    February 12, 2025
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: There’s an App for That: Using Mobile Technology to Improve Healthcare and Lower Costs
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Mobile Health > There’s an App for That: Using Mobile Technology to Improve Healthcare and Lower Costs
Mobile Health

There’s an App for That: Using Mobile Technology to Improve Healthcare and Lower Costs

Kevin Campbell
Last updated: August 21, 2012 8:22 pm
Kevin Campbell
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

 

 

Smartphones are commonplace.  Nearly half (49.7%) of all US mobile phone subscribers now have smartphones according to Nielson in February 2012.   These phones are powerful computers that are able to manage large amounts of data easily.  Applications are commonplace and new software is developed everyday.  Recently, many applications have been developed to help patients manage their own healthcare.  Although there are many regulatory challenges that are created by the use of mass market medical smartphone applications, the benefits to patients can be enormous.  Moreover, if simple, low-cost software programs can help patients better manage their disease at home and avoid costly hospital admissions and ER visits, the financial impact on the struggling US healthcare system could be substantial.

 

This week in the New York Times, Joshua Brustein penned an article describing a new smartphone application designed to help diabetic patients manage their disease.  The article addresses some of the challenges in medical application “prescriptions” and explores the regulatory and FDA related issues surrounding medical applications.  Certainly as Mr Brustein mentions, an application designed for patient care and disease management must be “bug free”.  In a previous New York Times article from June, 2012, Julie Weed describes the benefits of medical smartphone applications for travellers who need to remain on a medication schedule through different time zones, manage diabetes or hypertension.  Dr Eric Topol in his book “The Creative Destruction of Medicine” describes a world where smartphones and other technology will allow people to take control of their own healthcare–eliminating traditional doctor visits and potential hospitalizations for testing.

 
 

Certainly, technology has significantly improved medical care through the years.  l believe that there is a huge upside to smartphone applications in medical care.  Increasingly, physicians are under pressure to see more patients in less time.  As more data is made available to both physician and patient, the task of properly evaluating the patient and managing the data and ultimately the patient’s presenting complaint and chronic disease in the office becomes even more daunting.  Smartphones have the capability of collecting and organizing data that can be of use to both patient and physician.  Simple tasks like tracking medication use and compliance, monitoring blood pressure or blood sugars can improve a provider’s ability to effectively and efficiently manage a chronic disease.  Furthermore, having a patient input or transfer data to and from their smartphone engages the patient in their own care–thus improving outcomes.  We know that patient engagement in care is critical to successful disease management.

 
 

Healthcare costs continue to rise in the US today.  Many efforts are underway to decrease cost, eliminate waste, and identify and prosecute fraud.  Technology such as smartphone medical applications have the ability to impact these skyrocketing costs.  If, for example, a patient with diabetes is able to track changes or patterns in blood sugar levels and correlate them with particular behaviors, a phone call or electronic communication with his or her physician may prevent a hospital admission or clinic visit.  As Mr Brustein mentions in his article, the total cost for treating diabetes in 2007 alone was $174 billion dollars.  Imagine the cost savings that early detection of complications and acute events may have.  Moreover, imagine the impact that such technology could have on each individual patient’s life.

 
 

To me, using smartphones to manage medical data and impact disease is more than an exciting science fiction story;  this technology is reality. As a society, we have embraced smartphone use in nearly every aspect of our daily lives.  Now is the time for physicians, patients and the government regulatory leaders to act.  Lets take advantage of what technology has to offer and provide patients and physicians with the tools they need to expedite care and improve outcomes.

The post There’s an App for That: Using Mobile Technology to Improve Healthcare and Lower Costs appeared first on The Doctor Weighs In.

TAGGED:smartphones
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Why You Should Care About Your Personal Health Record and Access to Your Data

June 13, 2014

How Pharma Companies Can Become Bigger Players in Mobile Health

August 13, 2013
Image
Mobile Health

Mobile Health Around the Globe: OrraHealth Transcription Software Makes Transcription Easy

October 22, 2012

Apple Watch: A Key Player in Healthcare Technology

February 23, 2016
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?