Future of the Smartphone for Patients and Healthcare Providers

• DOI: 10.4258/hir.2016.22.1.1
• Publication Date: 2016-02-16T07:42:42Z
• Authors: Jae-Ho Lee
• Keywords: Smartphone application; Mobile phone; Wearable Technology

Mobile health (m-health) uses mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, PDAs, and other wireless devices [1]. However, the smartphone is most popular attractive device in m-health. Actually, m-health market has grown rapidly since emergence of smartphone. A hospital Korea reported that an iPhone-based Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system developed 2010 was accessed over 200 times more frequently than a PDA-based EMR 2004, although PDAbased one had invaluable clinical functions [2]. Other hospitals may have similar experience. device, but it different from cellular phones or PDAs terms computing power (smartness), sensors, connectivity [3,4]. Connectivity encompasses not only network connectivity, also social media wearable devices. These features enable to work as essential tool for Last year, Eric Topol wrote column The Wall Street Journal entitled, Future Medicine Is Your Smartphone [4]. Such perspectives can be found several medical journals. 'medicalized' becoming familiar biomedical informaticians Korea. future medicine really smartphone? Which practices carried out with What needed medicine?

As 2014, 64% American adults owned smartphone, 62% owners used their look up information about condition [5]. number iOS apps including fitness groups increased 43,000 2013 98,000 2015 [6]. growth confined apps. Internet Things healthcare expected 117 billion US dollars 2020 [7]. Regardless accuracy report, seems experiencing explosive growth, lagging far behind still early stage. Apps disease-specific (9%), medication reminders & (6%), providers/insurance (2%) were 17% group Apple App store Only 27% community centers United States use communication patients. Cellular are rarely purposes—medication adherence, personal access, chronic disease management support—in such [8], purposes.

Although m-healthcare services stage, expectations high. Why? nature smartphones, is, ease use, smartness, accessibility, mobility, etc., could explain these high expectations. Another explanation healthcare. Healthcare providers (HCPs) patients themselves. There many reports HCPs comfortable technology (HIT), HIT well integrated workflow. No physicians stay at outpatient clinic all time. They always move wards, operating rooms, examination emergency laboratories. gap between physicians' needs functionalities cannot filled by PC-based HIT. Tools bedside point-of-care HCPs. convenient place HCP communicate patient's bedside. armed mobility satisfy HCP's requests. From perspective, situation same. shifting patient-centered care. Patient satisfaction, empowerment, engagement important. new paradigm encourages access data wherever they are, discuss physicians, decide treatment plans learn discharge plans. support requirements, accessibility issues must solved. Today hospitalized regarding conditions smartphones tablets, some even provide them. Smartphones tablets effectively above purposes.

There worries present ubiquitous behind. Many various innovative improve workflow quality implemented hospitals. One Korean 20 reviewed respect six quality-of-care aims. report concluded great potential care outcomes [9]. Bundang, started unique innovated display in-patients them [10]. been barcode readers tools identification, medication, transfusion Hospitals seem working belief medicine.

However, if center service Korea, challenges, national policies, industry, research Biomedical should evidence reduce cost care, cope challenges. M-health just emerging; themes limited development, usage patterns, user's characteristics, etc. M-health's impact on workflow, outcome, safety, reduction investigated. effectiveness PHR determined. Methods evaluate how helpful practice make clinicians researched. 'Medicalized' waiting evaluated informaticians.