mHealth

mHealth on a Global Scale
mHealth, or the provision of healthcare via mobile devices, has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery – particularly in remote locations or areas with underdeveloped infrastructure. Mobile text messaging, in particular, provides an instant and asynchronous means of communication between providers or from provider to patient, which makes it an invaluable mHealth tool for clinical and healthy behavior intervention delivery.

Recently, the Lab conducted an assessment of global mHealth initiatives and their impact on efforts to meet Millennium Development Goals for maternal and newborn care. Our researchers’ discussion of policy, funding and social challenges and recommendations for next steps were published in Maternal and Child Health Journal and presented at the American Public Health Association 2011 annual meeting.

Physician Mobile Communication Service
We completed a needs assessment and feasibility analysis of a new subscriber-based service proposed to meet the communication needs of physicians, nurses, lab technicians and affiliated healthcare workers. The service would be accessed by physicians and nurses using a handheld computing device (PDA or mobile phone) and by lab technicians using a desktop computer, and would provide medication of asynchronous communication between parties. For the service developer, the Lab assessed market dynamics such as demand and receptivity for such a service, and examined the competitive landscape in this fast-moving sector.