The State of Mobile Technology in Healthcare

by
Clearstep Media
Clearstep Team

The Covid pandemic left many adverse effects on American society, which are still evident today. However, some much needed technological advancements did occur, especially in the healthcare field.

There is a projection for growth in the mobile health market to reach $189 billion by 2025. As a result of the pandemic, people could not physically see their doctors for simple checkups in 2020, which led to the rapid adoption of mobile health technology. 

Mobile health technology prevents patients from missing essential appointments, so they can receive the care they need, when they need it. It enables people to discuss their health issues with their doctors through smartphones, tablets, and computers when in-person visits are not an option.

Health professionals and patients enjoy the benefits of using mobile technology and in many cases, prefer it over traditional methods. Patients enjoy not having to drive to the doctor for every little ailment, and doctors reap the benefits from the speed of their work.

Since everyone sees the benefits, does this mean mobile health technology is here to stay? The answer is “yes,” as the pros of using this technology in healthcare continue to outweigh the cons. Keep reading to learn more about the state of mobile technology in healthcare and the benefits it’ll provide.

Related: Emerging Technology in Healthcare: 10 Innovations that Are Changing the Industry

What is Mobile Healthcare Technology?

Mobile healthcare technology refers to using mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, to access Healthcare applications, data, and services. This technology offers several advantages for both patients and healthcare providers. 

For patients, mobile healthcare technology provides easy access to their health information, allows them conveniently to book care appointments online, and better enables them to track their health progress. Mobile healthcare technology can also improve patient communication, reduce paperwork, and increase efficiency for healthcare providers. We’ll discuss more about the benefits of mobile healthcare technology below:

Treatment Devices

Mobile technology has revolutionized the way we communicate and access information. However, did you know it is also helpful to treat various medical conditions? 

From heart disease to mental health, there are a growing number of treatment devices that make use of mobile technology. For example, patients with heart conditions can now monitor their condition using a smartphone app. The app will track their heart rate and send alerts if it detects any irregularities.

Similarly, some apps allow people with anxiety and depression to track their moods and get support from counselors. With the help of mobile technology, people with medical conditions can now manage their symptoms and get the treatment they need from the comfort of their home.

Fitness Devices

According to Pew Research Center, 21% of Americans keep track of their fitness with a smart device like a watch or a phone. The question is, why are they doing this?

When paired with a mobile healthcare app, users can monitor their activity level, heart rate, and more, which helps them stay on top of their health. Using this data, they can proactively make healthier choices and achieve their fitness goals.

Some fitness devices can also offer features that can help users manage chronic conditions such as diabetes. By using mobile healthcare technology, people with chronic conditions can better monitor their health and ensure they're staying on track with their treatment plans.

Related: Physician Burnout: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, & Solutions

The Benefits of Mobile Technology in Healthcare

In today's digital age, it's no surprise that mobile technology is making its way into the healthcare industry. From doctors to nurses to hospital executives, everyone is benefiting from the use of mobile devices in hospitals. Here are several ways mobile technology is improving healthcare: 

Faster Communication

In the past, the only way a patient could speak to their doctor was by setting an appointment. Oftentimes the appointment ends up being scheduled days or weeks after the initial request. To complicate things further, it’s not uncommon for patients to have set an appointment with the wrong type of physician or to have missed a care step along the way to better prepare them for their appointment. 

However, thanks to mobile technology, patients can quickly connect with the correct type of care provider sooner vs later. For example, our virtual triage allows patients to provide the symptoms they are having within the app. Once done, our triage quickly searches for the right provider within their area for them to obtain a medical consultation.

Physicians will enjoy the benefit of being able to reach patients to conduct follow-ups. Before the advancement of mobile technology, many doctors could not contact patients immediately to discuss their progress. Patients can remotely check-in and share symptom/status updates using applications like our Clinical Journeys™ program to let care teams know what steps are required to improve their health outcomes.

Increased Efficiency

With the ever-increasing demands placed on doctors, it's critical for them to find ways to work more efficiently. Mobile healthcare technology can be a huge help in this regard, as it allows doctors to access patient records, make appointments, and even prescribe medication from their smartphones or tablets. This means that they can save time by performing tasks that used to require a phone call or an in-person visit, and it also gives them the flexibility to work from anywhere. 

Mobile healthcare technology also helps doctors stay organized and track their patients' progress. By having all of the relevant information at their fingertips, they can quickly see what needs to be done and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Improved Patient Compliance

According to a recent study, mobile healthcare technology can improve patient compliance with their treatment plan. The study found that patients who used a mobile app to track their blood pressure, weight, and other health data were more likely to follow their treatment plan than those who did not use an app. 

Applications also helped patients to control their blood pressure better. Researchers believe that an app's ability to provide feedback and reminders about appointments and medication adherence have greatly helped to improve patient compliance. Apps also allowed patients to share their progress with their care team, which also contributes to improved compliance.

Related: Patient Engagement in Healthcare: How Can I Improve it?

Real-Time Medical Monitoring from Medical Devices

Physicians can now monitor their patient's health in real-time by sending and receiving data from wearable medical devices. This allows physicians to detect problems early and intervene before they become serious. 

This technology also empowers patients to take a more active role in their treatment plan. They can monitor their own progress and make necessary changes to their lifestyle or medication regimen.

Reduced Operational Costs

In the past, if a doctor wanted to know if a patient had a specific medical condition, they would have to order a test, wait for the results to come back from the lab, and then interpret them. Consequently, waiting on test results could take several days or weeks. However, mobile technology has enabled doctors to get many test results in real-time, significantly reducing operational costs. 

For example, if a doctor wants to check for a heart condition, they can now use an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine connected to their smartphone. This allows them to get the results immediately. Doctors can now diagnose conditions more quickly and efficiently because of mobile technology, and in many cases, reduce healthcare operational costs.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, mobile technology is changing healthcare for the better. It allows doctors to have more access to information and patients to have more control over their own health. Therefore, healthcare providers should continue to explore how they can use mobile technology to improve patient care.

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