Tag: misuse

Everyone wants to jump on the “mHealth train”. But so many for the wrong reasons!

Returning from a business trip to Asia, I discovered – yet again – that organizations use the mHealth word to increase their profile as a care provider to their customers. Unfortunatly, without having a real mHealth service.

In this case a phone number is provided to the mobile phone user. In case of illness he/she can call in and get to a triage system, where hospital helpdesk is guiding the person based on questions to the right specialist.

To me this is mearely an improvement of traditional customer care, not a mHealth service. A mHealth service should be an extension of care outside the care setting, using wireless technology. In simple terms; the care of the patient – surveillance, control of symptoms, patient education, tailoring the medication to the patients needs, monitoring treatment progress, real time patient diary etc. – are areas where wireless technology can be used. And that is the definition of a real mHealth application.

As with any brand, misuse can destroy it. Let’s try to keep the mHealth word “clean”. In it’s true meaning it can and should give the caregiver credit for implementing this for the patients so useful service!