business

Many health organizations lack clear strategy for mobile initiatives

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 8, 2012

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Nearly all health care organizations are implementing some type of mobile health effort. But many are doing so without a specific driver, according to a study by Medullan, an information technology consulting firm based in Cambridge, Mass.

Medullan asked 106 health care organizations and insurers about their mobile health plans. Nearly one in four did not have a specific driver for pursuing a mobile health initiative, and 32% said that lack of a clear strategy or execution plan was their biggest barrier.

The survey did not include small practices. But Ahmed Albaiti, CEO of Medullan, said many small practices also lack a plan because they are at the mercy of their vendors, parent or affiliated organizations, or their patients.

“Mobile health” can mean many things to many people, Albaiti said. Small practices should define what it means to them and identify areas where a mobile health solution would make sense.

For small practices, mobile initiatives are generally categorized in two ways: mobile care delivery and mobile patient engagement. Strategies around mobile care delivery are generally reliant on vendors building mobile components to other clinical systems, such as electronic health records.

Adoption of patient engagement tools usually are driven by patients, who find and download commercial apps they are interested in using. Since most practices do not have the resources to launch their own line of apps for patients, a practice initiative can be built around helping patients pick the best apps to use, Albaiti said.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/10/08/bibf1008.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn