83% of people in the world have a smartphone. Thus, almost everyone has access to mobile health apps to monitor their condition around the clock. There are over 350,000 mHealth apps on the market, and the number of digital therapy solutions is constantly growing. This became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic: in some countries, people were 135% more likely to download medical platforms. Patients of all ages are interested in personal health solutions. 78.64% of medical professionals are also positive about telemedicine. They see at least five benefits of mobile health apps.
Are mobile health apps vital to medical practice?
Mobile health apps are part of eHealth. These are software solutions for smartphones, tablets, computers, and wearable devices (smartwatches). There are seven types of health platforms:
Health apps mean an innovative way to deliver healthcare services. They provide a better quality of care and increase the efficiency of doctors and nurses. The benefits of mobile app development are driving healthcare facilities to order powerful digital products.
Corey Bridges, CEO of Lifemap Solutions, mentions key benefits of mobile health apps. He says that digital health is “moving from a curiosity to a research tool, to an actual mainstream, accepted clinical tool.”
Health won’t completely replace conventional health care. However, it is an indispensable addition to medical practice, as it keeps chronic patients under constant control. It also helps people from regions where medical services are inaccessible. If there are no narrow specialists in their area, they can receive help remotely through mobile platforms.
Five benefits of mobile health apps
Mobile health apps have undeniable benefits for patients and doctors alike because they help to:
mHealth solutions often combine wearable medical devices (glucometers, pulse oximeters, and ECG machines) and an app. They continuously collect information on vital body indicators and transfer it to EHRs/EMRs. Thus, doctors can quickly and seamlessly review patients’ data. This is the principle behind the Genio platform that treats people for obstructive sleep apnea.
Other mobile medical platforms not only collect data but also interpret it. They have a built-in AI mechanism analyzing large amounts of information without human intervention. The smart algorithm scans medical images to detect primordial signs of serious diseases. It also helps to provide fast results for laboratory tests.
Such tools help doctors make informed and timely medical decisions. Patients can place, organize, and store medical records in one place for better self-care.
98.5% of patients experience a medical error, mostly of a minor nature (48% of cases). Most incidents are due to:
— lack of experience;
— poor communication;
— increased workload;
— complexity of a medical case;
— inaccuracies in lab reports.
Healthcare specialists cannon completely avoid mistakes but they can reduce their number. For this, they should take advantage of mobile health apps. Take, for example, the Epocrates platform. Doctors can use this reliable medical “cheat sheet” to clarify disease symptoms, see a list of current medications and treatment protocols, calculate medication dosage, and assess compatibility with other drugs.
Apps like eLabJournal give accurate and quick lab results. Medical calculators like MedCalX manage patient treatment data. Such tech support is essential for physicians. They can set diagnoses correctly and select efficacious treatment plans with minimal side effects for patients.
Besides not having to pay for travel to clinics, patients save money on consultation fees. In the US, a personal consultation with a doctor costs $150 to $450 (without insurance). A telemedicine consultation will cost an average of $40. The difference is striking, right? And you can talk to your doctor at any convenient place, even at work, if your boss allows you to do it.
Using smartphones also means savings. Digital services could save about $300 billion in healthcare costs. Medical apps help to reduce hospital readmissions, ensure timely doctor visits, and cut unnecessary lab tests. With them, people can avoid severe illnesses. Enhanced automation and self-care could also reduce overall administrative expenses.
The average American doctor sees 11 to 20 patients a day. It takes them 17 to 24 minutes to examine one person. This is not always enough to get a comprehensive picture of a disease (especially in complicated cases). Lack of time hinders building good communication. While talking to a visitor, a healthcare professional examines their documents and makes records in the EHR. Lack of visual contact and haste make the patient doubt that the doctor has prescribed the best medicine.
Mobile health apps remove barriers to communication, which is their powerful benefit. Such platforms include various communication channels: chats, phone calls, and videoconferences. With their help, an attending physician stays available to patients 24/7. A patient can ask clarifying questions or apply for an additional online consultation. People can request treatment when they notice early symptoms. They don’t need to wait for a disease going acute.
There are no more barriers to communication. Anyone can ask for help, no matter the insurance or residential area. You only need a smartphone, an Internet connection, and the money to pay for a consultation.
The fifth benefit of mobile health apps is their humanitarian mission. These programs make people eat properly, move more, get good quality sleep, and maintain mental health.
When stress is as dangerous as coronavirus, it’s hard to maintain physical and mental health. mHealth apps motivate people to develop healthy habits, improving the quality of life. Thus, you can set safe goals, achieve them, and create a “better version of yourself”.
Conclusion
As telemedicine is growing in popularity, the benefits of mobile health apps and the necessity of further mobile application development are becoming even more clear. Such products are indispensable assistants for patients and doctors. Visit this website to find the best app to solve your problems and get the maximum benefit. In the future, humanity will see new striking discoveries in mobile health care. Innovative solutions will bring people even more beneficial health effects.