5
Volume 5 Issue 3
September 2012
mHealth
Online Health Communications
M
obile Health (mHealth) is becoming more of a reality
as medical practices increasingly embrace mobile
technologies, according to a new study by CompTIA,
the non-profit association for the information technology
industry.
While laptop and notebook PCs are commonplace in the
medical community, the next wave of mobile adoption is well
underway as providers turn to tablets, Smartphone's and
applications to increase productivity and improve patient care,
according to CompTIA’s Third Annual Healthcare IT Insights and
Opportunities study.
As mobile technologies have become more user-friendly,
affordable and powerful, the appeal to businesses of all types,
including healthcare providers, has grown. New devices, new
apps and new methods of connectivity have given healthcare
staff a broad array of tools to better care for patients,
contributing to improved efficiencies and savings.
A LWW’s poll shows that 71 percent of nurses use their phone
for work and 66 percent of students use them for school. And
it was also reported recently that about 85 percent of physicians
own Smartphone's and many use them for work related
purposes.
The mHealth field operates on the premise that technology
integration within the health sector has the great potential to
promote a better health communication to achieve healthy
lifestyles, improve decision-making by health professionals
(and patients) and enhance healthcare quality by improving
access to medical and health information and facilitating
instantaneous communication in places where this was not
previously possible.
The appeal of mHealth is that it enables communication in
motion, allowing individuals to access essential information
irrespective of time and place. The many objectives and benefits
of mHealth include increased access to healthcare and health
related information; improved ability to diagnose and track
diseases; timelier public health information; and expanded access
to ongoing medical education and training for health workers.
There are many areas that need improvement and development
for mHealth to continue as a legitimate and uncompromised
system for sharing and delivering information.
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Data Improvement
A big concern with mobile devices and digital assets is the
genuine safety of our data. Technology brings with it the
worry of where our information is being stored and so we
ask “how safe is my personal information?” We are
continually concerned with its protection. It is vital that new
systems maintain a safe and secure method of transferring
and holding information. Without this security the future of
mHealth could be jeopardised.
Technology Upgrades
Whether you personally upgrade your mobile device, laptop
or phone, or your employer begins to engage in system
changes, upgrades are vital to the continued success and
development of mHealth in organizations. Technology
moves at such a rapid pace that it can be difficult to keep up.
Development of Services
As new technologies come to the fore front, developers must
consistently upgrade and develop new resources including
mobile applications, websites and online resources.
This months 20 page supplement mHealth delves into the world of online and mobile health resources.
Copies are available from the Main Library and also from the Library section of the Rotunda staff website.