We’ve recently discussed the benefits of implementing mobile health technologies and telemedicine into patient care. Movement towards these technologies in healthcare is rapid and growing. In a recent article in Healthcare IT News, it is estimated that the telemedicine market will reach $2.5B by the year 2018. [1]
Furthermore, there are new sectors in which mobile health technology is expanding and creating new opportunities.
Zoe Fox, a columnist for Mashable, believes “mobile is the future of sustainable development” and outlined five reasons why in today’s column. [2]
There are many mobile health projects underway in sub-Sahara Africa. With the use of text messaging, health workers can report outbreaks of malaria within three minutes. Prior to this, it would take a matter of weeks in isolated areas.
2. Education through Gamification
In what Fox dubbed “gaming for good,” using social and mobile games to feature information content and educate users about health issues is a great opportunity, especially for those who do not own a computer.
3. Monitoring through Government Accountability
In India, where access to healthcare is unavailable in remote regions due to worker absenteeism, citizens can now report this to authorities via mobile phone.
4. Preserving the Rainforest
With the help of Google, Brazil’s Surui tribe, native to the Amazon rainforest, can use Android phones to report and monitor the land’s most valuable resource, carbon stock.
5. Disaster Response
The American Red Cross has a new first-aid smartphone app, which is the first in a series of emergency preparedness mobile apps the organization is currently developing. [3]
“Mobile phones in the health space feels like the Internet and ecommerce in 1994 and 1995,” said HP global health director Paul Ellingstad. “Right now, we know it’s a connection point, since 5.7 billion people have access to a mobile phone. With that sort of pervasiveness, you can provide health information, education and prevention to millions at risk of death.”
Can you think of other innovative ways mobile health technologies and telemedicine can be implemented into healthcare?
[1] McCann, Erin. “Telemedicine market to reach $2.5B by 2018.” Healthcare IT News. Web. 19 July 2012.
[2] Fox, Zoe. “5 Reasons Mobile is the Future of Sustainable Development.” Mashable. Web. 19 July 2012.
[3] Versel, Neil. “Mobile health pervades recent top healthcare ranking.”MobiHealthNews. Web. 19 July 2012.
