CTIA - The Wireless Association® Blog - Mobile Health

MHealth Innovations

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:09:00 -0500

The worlds of technology and ingenuity are colliding in mobile health, creating state-of-the-art products for a wide variety of patients. Montage Systems' Samantha McDermott demonstrates at the recent CTIA show in San Diego how the company is tapping into the power of wireless. To learn more watch this segment from our November installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in this month's WOW.

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mHealth: Changing the Way We Live

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:56:00 -0500

mHealth is improving productivity & care for the medical & wellness industries. Jeremy Lowell, DDS & owner of multiple Gold’s Gym franchises, talks about how these new products & services are revolutionizing the way hospitals, doctors & patients interact. Take a listen.

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MedApps: Best Practices from a mHealth Leader

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:50:00 -0500

With policymakers focusing on healthcare, wireless devices and services are an important part of the solution for improving medical care while reducing costs. Kent Dicks, CEO of MedApps, a remote health monitoring solution, discusses the potential for mHealth. Take a listen.

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Remote Monitoring via Wireless

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:45:00 -0500

Using wireless to remotely monitor patients helps physicians increase diagnostic efficiency & accuracy. We sat down with Dr. Cameron Powell the President, CMO, & Co-Founder of AirStrip Technologies to discuss wireless remote monitoring & how it’s helping to reshape the healthcare landscape. Take a listen.

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New Study Shows mHealth has Vast Appeal in America

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:44:00 -0500

In conjunction with Harris Interactive®, we conducted online and phone surveys of U.S. adults and an online survey of physicians to gauge their interest in mHealth (or mobile health) service options. The results of the study clearly indicate that Americans are seeing great potential in the future of mHealth.

Here are a few highlights from the study:

Almost 8 in 10 Americans (78%) expressed interest in mHealth solutions and over 1 in 10 (15%) said they were extremely/very interested in learning more about it.
Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) people surveyed said they would upgrade their existing wireless plan to participate and 11% said they would even consider switching wireless providers to receive mobile healthcare services.
40% believe mHealth services would supplement medical care they receive from their doctor now and almost one-quarter (23%) believe mobile health services might replace doctor visits altogether.
Adults surveyed believe that those in rural areas had the most to gain from mobile heath services (51%), closely followed by those with chronic diseases that needed monitoring (48%), retired/Medicare patients (41%) and caregivers (38%).
Physicians said over one quarter of all their patients would benefit from such services and 80% of doctors and 89% of specialists voted to continue investment in mHealth.

You can read more details about the mHealth study in the press release we issued today. To learn more about mHealth solutions, click here. And, to hear what the experts have to say on mHealth, listen to some of the podcasts featured on our show site.

mHealth Case Studies

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:42:00 -0500

mHealth is a main theme here at International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009® and we wanted to highlight some of the interesting and innovative ways wireless is playing an increasingly important role in the pursuit of wellness through the constant connectivity mobile technologies provide. Aaron Goldmuntz, CarioNet, Inc.’s Dir. of Business Development, shares innovative real-world uses of mHealth products & services.

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The Wireless Industry's mHealth Focus

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:55:00 -0500

We've talked a lot about mHealth recently -- from our Spring Show in Las Vegas to our June policy forum at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. With our Wireless IT & Entertainment Show coming up in San Diego, mHealth is going to continue to be a focus.

While the healthcare industry, elected officials and other influentials are trying to solve America' healthcare challenge, medical and policy experts agree that the wireless industry is a key component to the healthcare "fix."

We've developed a simple overview outlining the current U.S. healthcare situation, how wireless can help, real-life examples of wireless solutions and what policymakers can do to help increase growth, innovation and deployment.

Considering 60% of bankruptcies were caused by medical costs, now is the time to solve the healthcare crisis. mHealth will allow the millions of Americans living in remote, rural areas to "visit" the best doctors’ offices in the country, eliminating healthcare disparities based on geographic location and economic differences.

By making healthcare more personal and individualized, mHealth solutions are expected to significantly improve the medical community’s ability to identify and resolve epidemics, reduce medical errors and expand preventive healthcare.

mHealth Making Headlines

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:25:00 -0500

I don’t think you can turn on a TV or read the news without seeing something on healthcare reform.

But regardless of your opinion on the issue, I think we can all agree that reducing medical costs and errors, removing geographical and economic disparities, and reinforcing consumer-focused & personalized healthcare is a must.

This is why CTIA, along with a growing number of medical and health policy experts, are talking about mobile wireless technologies and applications that are reshaping the healthcare landscape. Mobile wireless services are in the hands of more than 270 million subscribers – and mHealth solutions are improving healthcare services for millions regardless of location, race, age, gender, or disability.

A recent article on Fortune.com by TMNG Global’s Richard Nespola paints an interesting picture of how mHealth solutions are cutting costs and changing the way we provide medical care in America.

CTIA’s “mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum 2009” was mentioned in the story as a recent example of the wireless industry bringing together officials from the White House, Congress, and CDC, along with policy and medical experts to discuss the important role mHealth solutions play in healthcare reform.

To see video highlights of the event, please click here. And, to learn more about mHealth Solutions, click here.

Highlights from CTIA's "mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum"

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:12:00 -0500

Avid blog readers already know that we held the “mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum” on Wednesday with some of the leading medical and policy experts on how wireless technology can play a major role in improving healthcare. While we’re compiling some video clips for you to see and hear these speakers, we thought we’d share some photo highlights of the event.

Steve Largent, President & CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association®, welcomes medical and policy experts to the “mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum” at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-9th) gives a keynote address discussing the importance in deploying cost-effective wireless technology solutions which will reduce healthcare costs and expand affordable healthcare options for millions of people.

Dr. Eric J. Topol demonstrates Corventis’ “smart bandaid” which provides real-time electrocardiogram monitoring.

The first panel of speakers is focusing on “Innovating Through Healthcare Reform: The Mobile Solution.” Several speakers are medical innovators who are applying existing, commonly used mobile applications to address a variety of chronic care and other health conditions.

Sprint representatives are on-site to showcase live demonstrations of innovative mobility solutions for the healthcare industry.

In the second panel, policy experts are discussing how to keep pace with technology innovation.

mHealth Solutions Play Important Role in Healthcare Reform

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:13:00 -0500

This morning CTIA hosted the “mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum” at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., where officials from the White House, Congress, and CDC, along with policy and medical experts talked about how wireless is a major part of the solution when it comes to addressing America’s chronic care crisis.

Some of the speakers from this morning’s impressive line-up included U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-9, Member of 21st Century Health Care Caucus), Chief Medical Officer of the West Wireless Health Institute and Chief Academic Officer for Scripps Health Dr. Eric Topol and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Dr. Dan Fletcher.

The key point that was reiterated throughout the morning was that the mobile wireless services you use everyday can also be used to improve your personal health. Since mobile wireless services are a part of daily life for more than 270 million Americans (and 4.1 billion individuals worldwide), there is an incredible opportunity to improve the healthcare industry across the board regardless of geographic location, race, age, gender or disability. Considering healthcare spending in America is at $2.2 trillion each year, an all-time high, today’s speakers agreed that mHealth solutions play an important role in healthcare reform.

Another key point was that the mHealth discussion isn’t just "pie-in-the-sky" but actually used in real-life right now. In fact, several of our speakers have applied existing, commonly used mobile applications to address a variety of chronic care and other health conditions.

Dan Fletcher, PhD; White House Office of Science and Technology Policy – oversaw the development of the CellScope, a cameraphone-microscope. The device takes focused pictures at up to 50x magnification, enough to see red blood cells and the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria. Modified versions of the scope can also diagnose tuberculosis, skin conditions, dangerous insect bites and abnormal mole growth
Jonathan Javitt, M.D., MPH; CEO, Telcare – helped develop the Telcheck™, a glucose meter which transmits daily glucose readings to a patient’s caregiver (e.g. physician, nurse/case manager or pharmacist) and relays daily coaching to the patient. It may also be used to link a child with diabetes to a parent or an elderly parent with diabetes to an adult child. In addition, Telcare will launch the Telflo™ wireless peak flow meter for asthma which combines monitoring technology with wireless communications. Physicians and parents will be alerted when a child falls below respiratory flow safe levels or when a child stops testing in the prescribed manner.
Justin Sims; CEO, Voxiva – Voxiva’s mHealth applications include appointment reminders, sent via SMS (text), email or phone. Reminders can be two-way so patients can either confirm or cancel their appointments. They also offer “daily diaries,” a personal record to keep track of treatments which can be accessed through the phone, text messages or through a web interface to review or to share with others.
Richard J. Katz, M.D.; Director, Division of Cardiology and Director, Cheney Cardiovascular Institute, The George Washington University Hospital – principle investigator for a trial using the “Pill Phone” to improve medication adherence of hypertensive medications in a Medicaid population. He is also principle investigator for “DC Health Connect,” a cell phone program to manage diabetes and hypertension in Washington, DC health clinics.
Jay Bernhardt, M.D.; Director, Center for National Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – currently using emerging mobile technologies to increase the dissemination and potential impact of CDC’s science by reaching wider and more diverse audiences, and tailoring specific health messages to meet unique challenges, such as the response to H1N1 and natural disasters such as hurricanes. The CDC is using mobile technology to facilitate interactive communication and community - thereby empowering people to make healthier and safer decisions.

Other benefits of wireless health discussed at today’s Forum include:

Out of the $2.2 trillion we spend on healthcare, $1.4 trillion is spent on treating chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If patients suffering from chronic conditions agreed to have their doctor monitor them remotely via mobile wireless applications, (i.e. monitor patients’ health and track and guide self-care beyond the doctors’ offices), we would save $21.1 billion per year by reducing emergency care, hospitalization and nursing home costs.
Remote monitoring allows the millions of Americans living in rural areas to visit the best doctors’ offices in the country, eliminating healthcare disparities based on geographic location and economic disparities.
Healthcare becomes more personal and individualized which means reduction in medical errors, improvements in preventive healthcare and improvements in the medical community’s ability to resolve epidemics
With the H1N1 (aka swine flu) now being declared a level 6 (meaning a global epidemic is underway), wireless can help to identify and monitor breakouts in areas that may otherwise be undercounted/underreported. This is certainly beneficial for rural areas in the U.S. and also internationally.

You're Invited to Attend "mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum"

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:00:00 -0500

Regardless of one’s political affiliation, we are at a crossroads on healthcare. In the U.S., we spend $2.4 trillion each year yet we have 46 million uninsured people. This is why President Obama and Congress have been working together to find the right solution.

CTIA, along with medical and health policy experts, believe that part of the solution is something that more than 270 million Americans use daily – their mobile wireless services.

On Wednesday, June 24th from 8:30-11:30 a.m. (EDT) at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., CTIA is hosting a Technology and Policy Forum on mHealth Solutions for America’s Chronic Care Crisis.

Making healthcare more personal and individualized is expected to reduce medical errors, improve preventive healthcare and significantly improve the medical community’s ability to resolve epidemics. Mobile wireless solutions are a part of the consumer-focused healthcare movement and the wave of the future.

We’ve gathered together an impressive line-up of medical and policy experts for the event including, U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA-9) and Jim Cooper (D-TN-5), Chief Medical Officer of the West Wireless Health Institute and Chief Academic Officer for Scripps Health Dr. Eric Topol, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Dr. Dan Fletcher, and Vice President of Global Health for the UN Foundation Dr. Dan Carucci.

Below is a brief snapshot of the schedule:

Keynote remarks will be given by:

U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA, 9th District)
Eric J. Topol, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, West Wireless Health Institute; Chief Academic Officer, Scripps Health

Panel I: Innovating Through Healthcare Reform: The Mobile Solution
Panel II: Policy Solutions – Keeping Pace with Technology Innovation

For information on how to RSVP or to view a copy of the full agenda and list of speakers, please click here. We hope you will be able to join us! Otherwise, make sure to visit our blog after the event when we’ll provide a recap and some videos.

To get an idea of what’s to come at next week’s mHealth Solutions and Policy Forum, watch this one-on-one interview with Dr. Topol. I had a chance to sit-down with Dr. Topol to talk about mHealth earlier this spring when he was a keynote speaker at the International CTIA WIRELESS 2009® tradeshow in Las Vegas.

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In addition, here are some clips of Dr. Topol’s informative keynote address.

Finally, here’s a video segment that highlights the public and private sectors joining together to use wireless for a promotional campaign on HIV/AIDS testing for young people.

Wireless at Work - Mobile Gets Personal

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:56:00 -0500

The public & private sectors team up to use wireless for a unique promotional campaign on HIV/AIDS testing for young people. The CDC, University of Georgia, college students, Nokia and Verizon Wireless collaborated to creatively communicate the importance of testing. To learn more watch this segment from our June installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast, and take a few moments to see what else we have to offer in our June WOW.

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Healthcare Reaches Communities Like Never Before

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:20:00 -0500

Mobile health is a central issue this year at International CTIA WIRELESS 2009®. Dr. Bernhardt from the Center for Disease Control illustrates how wireless is enabling patients and doctors to communicate like never before! Listen to a podcast to hear more about how the CDC is using wireless to better our health.

For more information on mobile health, please attend our Healthcare IT and Wireless event hosted by eWEEK on April 2 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in Room N252, moderated by Stephen Wellman from Ziff Davis Enterprise.

Please also visit our education session: Healthcare-An Industry Vertical Using Cellular Successfully also on April 2 from 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm in Room S219. Monica Alleven from Wireless Week will be moderating this session.