{"id":643817,"date":"2013-02-25T14:56:37","date_gmt":"2013-02-25T19:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gigaom.com\/?p=613854"},"modified":"2013-02-25T14:56:37","modified_gmt":"2013-02-25T19:56:37","slug":"4-ways-mobile-health-could-save-400b-in-health-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/643817","title":{"rendered":"4 ways mobile health could save $400B in health costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The latest and greatest in mobile technology is on display this week at the Mobile World Congress (and you can see my colleagues\u2019 coverage of that here<\/a>). But so are the applications of that technology. Health care, education, urban planning and other social sectors stand to benefit from mobile technology and a report out Monday from the GSMA and PricewaterhouseCoopers<\/a> gives a snapshot of how mobile technology could save money, increase opportunities and enhance health and safety in the coming years.<\/p>\n

In Sub-Saharan Africa, one million lives could be saved over the next five years with mobile health initiatives that help patients stick to their treatment plans and access information, as well as aid workers in monitoring the available of medication and follow treatment guidelines, according to the report. For example the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) enables health care workers and pregnant women to share health information via SMS; TxtAlert in South Africa helps HIV patients and healthcare workers comply with Anti Retroviral Therapy programs, cutting missed appointment rates from 27 percent to 4 percent, the report says.<\/p>\n

In developed countries, as we\u2019ve reported<\/a>, mobile health can also lead to positive outcomes. In 2017, the report says, mobile health could cut health care costs in developed countries by more than $400 billion.<\/p>\n

Considering that the GSMA represents the interests of the mobile technology industry, it\u2019s no surprise that the report touts its potential social benefits of mobile. And there are obviously challenges to mobile health\u2019s progress<\/a>, from regulatory concerns to the expense and time commitment needed to implement new systems to culture clashes between the medical and technology communities to confidentiality questions. But as doctor shortages mount and hospitals face new mandates related to accountability and electronic records, many in the industry are looking to mobile devices, applications and other programs to improve patient care, lower costs and drive efficiency. (At GigaOM\u2019s Structure:Data conference<\/a> in March, we\u2019ll uncover more about how big data can improve patient care and lower costs in a panel discussion with\u00a0 Aetna\u2019s head of innovation.)<\/p>\n

Here are four ways mobile health could help cut costs:<\/p>\n

Mobile care for sudden health incidents<\/b><\/p>\n

As telehealth grows \u2013 a recent report estimated it could grow by 55 percent this year alone<\/a> \u2013 mobile-based services could become more common in helping with immediate care. The GSMA and PwC report estimates that mobile-based care for patients with sudden health incidents could reduce primary and emergency care visits by 10 percent. Already, companies like Sherpaa<\/a> and Ringadoc<\/a> let patients reach physicians 24\/7 by phone, text or email.<\/p>\n

Remote patient home monitoring<\/b><\/p>\n

In non-emergency situations, mobile technology could also play a role in helping doctors keep tabs on elderly or recently discharged patients remotely. With Sotera Wireless,<\/a> for example, doctors can monitor patients\u2019<\/a> blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate and other indicators through a flip-phone-sized device worn on a patient\u2019s wrist. GSMA and PwC estimate that remote monitoring technology could lead to elderly care savings of up to 25 percent and improve patients\u2019 quality of life.<\/p>\n

Mobile access to electronic health records<\/b><\/p>\n

As more hospitals migrate to electronic medical records (EMR), patient information will increasingly be captured and accessed from mobile devices. PatientSafe<\/a>, for example, plugs into several EMR systems and lets doctors and nurses log patient information (like temperature, blood pressure, etc.) and manage other workflow tasks from a souped-up iPod Touch. <\/a>\u00a0According to PwC and GSMA, mobile access to electronic health records could lower the administrative burden on hospitals by 20 to 30 percent.<\/p>\n

SMS reminders for scheduling appointments (and taking medication)<\/b><\/p>\n

The old SMS could also play a bigger role in reducing health costs and improving patient care. Appointment reminder services, like that offered by Kaiser Permanente<\/a>, have been shown to reduce costs<\/a> and boost patient attendance. Companies like Blueprint Health\u2019s<\/a> AllazoHealth<\/a> and AdhereTech<\/a> use SMS (and other kinds of communication) to remind patients to take their medication after sensors or algorithms note when a patient hasn\u2019t taken medication or is likely to skip it.<\/p>\n

Image by \u00a0iadams<\/a>\u00a0via Shutterstock.
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