News Feature | February 28, 2014

HIMSS Examines mHealth Landscape

Source: Health IT Outcomes
Katie Wike

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

HIMSS releases results of Analytics Mobile Survey, focuses on six areas of mHIMSS Roadmap including New Care Models, Technology, ROI/Payment, Legal & Policy, Standards & Interoperability and Privacy & Security

HIMSS released the results of its 3rd Annual Analytics Mobile Survey at the HIMSS Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando. This year, survey questions followed the mHIMSS Roadmap, which is broken into sections that encompass key areas of consideration healthcare organizations should focus on when developing and implementing a mobile strategy. These include New Care Models, Technology, ROI/Payment, Legal & Policy, Standards & Interoperability and Privacy & Security.

Many providers said the biggest benefits of having mobile technologies at their facilities were increased access to patient information and the ability to view data from a remote location. The most difficult part of mobile implementation was funding issues. Some of the other key findings were:

  • New Care Models: top uses of mobile technology include looking up patient information and pharmacy management
  • Technology: one third of respondents offer apps for their patients; more than half would like to expand app use in the future
  • ROI/Payment: only half formally measure their mobile investment ROI
  • Legal & Policy: 59 percent have a mobile tech plan; 29 percent are developing one
  • Standards & Interoperability: 22 percent say data captured via mobile is integrated into an EMR; more than half report alerts from remote monitoring devices are delivered via EMR
  • Privacy & Security: 95 percent secure their mobile devices using at least one tool; the most common security tool is a password

“The mobile health market is one of the fastest growing areas in the health IT space. We recognize the growing importance of mobile technologies and its impact to transform the delivery of patient care,” said David Collins, Senior Director of mHIMSS. “The Survey reflects mobile technology as a transformational tool, as demonstrated by nearly all of the respondents supplying mobile technology to clinicians. This is a great example of how providers are integrating mHealth into today’s healthcare workflows. There is still work to be done by formally embracing mobile implementation strategies and measuring ROI.”

You can get a copy of the report as well as view an inforgraphic of its findings.

Want to publish your opinion?
Contact us to become part of our Editorial Community.