Telehealth and Mobile Platforms Will Play a Role in the Future of Healthcare
Innovations in mobile health and Telehealth are at the cusp of the movement that’s leading us into a brave new world of medical care.Mobile health and Telehealth might appear to be two sides of the same coin, but each of these budding branches of medical innovation has specific and unique aspects that must be understood separately.The better investors understand each of their purposes and potentials, the stronger the infrastructure that supports them will eventually be, creating a healthier, safer future for all of us.
Mobile Health
Mobile health, or mHealth, is a smartphone-based system that makes it easy for the everyday citizen to access information about their health and receive timely medical attention. With mHealth, users can either download an app or buy a wirelessly connected device, which can alert their chosen health professionals to any emergency via the Internet of Things.Mobile health apps like “Map My Run” and “My Fitness Tracker” collect data that make it easier for users to improve their physical condition. Some apps, such as HealthTap, contain databases of available medical experts who can answer questions and give feedback in real time, while others like Zodoc help users find medical care based on their location and insurance.
Telehealth
Telehealth, also known as wireless health, has also grown immensely as an industry in recent years. While mHealth mostly focuses on the general consumer, telehealth is designed to better facilitate patient-doctor relationships.Health telecommunication strategies primarily support long-distance health care, as well as public health administration and observation.Telehealth technologies include videoconferencing, photo sharing, and media streaming, and the industry has grown significantly in the past few years. Using Telehealth, doctors can view their patients in real time and track their progress and growth, even from afar.This is especially helpful for patients who may have difficulty leaving the house or are hampered by the necessity of constant hospital visits.
The Future of Healthcare Tech
Wireless health investors think virtual doctor visits will soon surpass one-one-one consultations as the preferred mode of receiving healthcare. They’re more convenient, cheaper, and often just as effective.What’s more, they’re a healthier alternative for clinically ill patients or those with disabilities, as their well-being might be compromised by frequent travel.The Wall Street Journal reports that hospitals have already been able to reduce admissions thanks to these investments, as virtual systems are now detecting problems before they become serious, leading to earlier operations and saved lives.Yet another windfall from this digital trend is the data that can be collected from health technology. More streamlined, instantaneous communication will allow for better data processing and collection, leading to a better overall healthcare experience for patients everywhere.Medicine as we know it is changing, becoming more accessible, intuitive, and most importantly, more digital. Those invested in the medical market today should recognize these changes now, or they’ll only be making greater adjustments in the very near future.