How Mobile Is Revolutionizing Healthcare

source: Aumcore.com

Like pretty much everything else in the world, healthcare is going mobile. Thanks to our love of smartphones and the mobility they give us, and a shift from hospitals to personal care systems, this mobile trend is growing and shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, the global mobile health market, also called mHealth, is expected to reach $58.8 billion by the end of 2020 at a CAGR of 32.3% between 2013 and 2020. And like everything else it touches, mobile is revolutionizing healthcare as avenues for remote monitoring and treatment are opened with the use of handheld mobile computers, smartphones, tablets and a host of wearable devices.

Benefits of Mobile Devices in Healthcare

The use of mobile devices in healthcare is acting as a catalyst to a paradigm shift that is changing the way the whole industry works. By allowing doctors to communicate with patients from anywhere in the world (and vice versa), mHealth is proving to be a great asset that allows for remote diagnoses and health tracking so delays in response are reduced or completely eliminated; if anything happens, action can be taken right then and there.

For example, with IoT and the emerging technology it brings that’s connecting tools like never before, and thanks to the mobile technology that’s streamlining processes and synthesising information with real-time information and updates, we now have remote patient monitoring that allows doctors to treat and diagnose patients who otherwise can’t make an in-person visit. They can review patient records and history while giving nurses and caregivers advice on what to do, and collect medical and health data and revert it back to them with accurate diagnoses. In doing so, they can help the elderly or those who can’t travel, such as expecting mothers, and provide services whenever they’re needed. Additionally, with the use of sensors in mobility devices like walkers and canes, alerts can be sent in case of accidents like a fall.

Along with a similar line, wearable devices like Fitbit, iWatch and a myriad of others are proving to be excellent for monitoring vitals and making sure everything stays in check. They can track health and wellness to ensure optimal health, and in case an emergency comes up (or is about to), (early) warnings and alerts can be sent to medical professionals to prevent disaster. As such, they can be also be used in chronic disease management for early detection of deterioration, such as in the maintenance of diabetes. In such a case, wearable devices can test blood pressure and glucose levels to ensure things are going as they should. Similarly, devices like wireless BP monitors, resynchronization therapy, and pacemakers can be used to reduce the risk of heart failure.

Mobile Apps in the Healthcare Industry

The buzz around mHealth isn’t just about physical devices, it’s also about certain mobile apps that are similarly revolutionizing healthcare. For example, HealthTap,  a technology company that delivers a suite of connected health apps, surveyed more than 65,000 physicians in its network and another 500,000 in its referral network on their recommendations on a wide variety of health and wellness apps. Here are the top 10 apps for iOS and Android they found:

Top Health and Medical Apps for iOS

1. Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker (MyFitnessPal.com)
2. Weight Watchers Mobile (Weight Watchers International)
3. Lose It! (FitNow)
4. White Noise Lite (TMSoft)
5. First Aid (American Red Cross)
6. Runkeeper (FitnessKeeper)
7. Stroke Riskometer (Autel)
8. Emergency First Aid & Treatment Guide (Phoneflips)
9. Instant Heart Rate (Azumio)
10. Fooducate (Fooducate)

Top 10 Health and Medical Apps for Android

1. Weight Watchers Mobile (Weight Watchers International)
2. White Noise Lite (TMSoft)
3. Lose It! (FitNow)
4. First Aid (American Red Cross)
5. RunKeeper – GPS Track Run Walk (FitnessKeeper)
6. Emergency First Aid/Treatment (Phoneflips)
7. Instant Heart Rate (Azumio)
8. Fooducate – Healthy Food Diet (Fooducate)
9. Glucose Buddy – Diabetes Log (Azumio)
10. Pocket First Aid & CPR (Jive Media)

Final Thoughts

We are in an era marked by the digitization of practically everything, including the healthcare industry. This means quick diagnosis and timely and efficient intervention when it’s needed, and real-time visualization of a patient’s health that saves both time and resources. In translation, mHealth appears to be a clear-cut win-win.