AcuteCare Telemedicine Blog

Mobile Health (mHealth) is the newest entrant in the world of telemedicine.  Delivery of health services by way of mobile, smart phones is promising to be a quickly expanding healthcare delivery device and minority communities may be the segment of population that will benefit the most from the technology.  The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies recently released a report entitled “Minorities, Mobile Broadband, and the Management of Chronic Diseases,” which evaluates the vast potential of mobile broadband technologies to help address our nation’s most pressing health concerns.

Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and obesity claim the lives of 7 out every 10 Americans each year and these chronic diseases affect minority communities disproportionately, with many individuals lacking the ability to effectively treat and monitor their health due to geographic, financial, cultural and linguistic barriers.  mHealth may be the answer to breaking down barriers to minorities receiving treatment for these chronic conditions.  With more than 63 percent of the minority population having access to mobile devices like smartphones and “pads”, equipping them with functionally relevant mobile applications can enhance the doctor-patient communication and empower patients to make informed healthcare decisions.

Some of the report’s policy recommendations include:

• Ensure universal access to mobile broadband for households in both un-served and underserved areas.
• Reform regulatory barriers that limit the use of non-traditional medical treatment.
• Create incentives for physicians to use mobile broadband-enabled technologies for current and preventative care.
• Avoid excessive and regressive taxation on wireless goods and services.

According to the latest industry data available, there are presently 31,000 health, fitness, and medical related apps on the market, and the rate of new introductions is growing rapidly. According to Washington, D.C.-based eHealth Initiative, the number of smart phone apps increased 120% during the past year alone and while there are hundreds of the apps that really work and are completely legitimate, the medical community has legitimate concern about many of the products safety and effectiveness.

Patients, physicians, and the vast mHealth community are profoundly optimistic about the future of health apps in bringing much needed medical care to those who suffer from chronic illnesses, not only in the minority communities but the increasingly aging population as well.