Question

Name and describe a new technology that can increase access to healthcare, lower costs, and even improve quality of care. How does it alter traditional delivery of care? What published evidence is there of its benefits? Name three or more different categories of patients - geographically, clinically, or otherwise - who have benefited already from the application of this new technology. Identify at least three concerns or caveats that remain to be addressed regarding its usage.

Answer 1

#. Mobile health - a new technology that can increase access to healthcare, lower costs, and even improve quality of care.

It is freeing healthcare devices of wires and cords and enabling physicians and patients alike to check on healthcare processes on-the-go. Smartphones and tablets allow healthcare providers to more freely access and send information. Physicians and service providers can use mHealth tools for orders, documentation and simply to reach more information when with patients.

It has also become a tool that allows patients to become active players in their treatment by connecting communication with biometrics. "mHealth has the opportunity to take healthcare monitoring out of the office, out of the lab and basically as a part of your life.

An article called - What is the clinical value of mHealth for patients?Simon P. Rowland, J. Edward Fitzgerald, [...], and Alison McGregor provides the information about how beneficial is mhealth .

#. Categories of patient who benefits with mhealth :-

- those who are physically disable

- who lives in remote areas

- who are financially weak to afford health services

#. Three concerns about mhealth :-

As poverty and illiteracy prevails, the access to mHealth apps is denied to a large section of the population because of their incapacity to afford it and the knowledge and skill to use it.

These can never be too accurate to replace the human mind and judgements.

These mHealth also make us dependent completely on the technology which might be a bane in the longer run.