Two Of Three Physicians Use Mobile

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

MedData Group report analyzes current state of connected health through mobile devices

A report from the MedData Group found that while the majority of providers use mobile devices, some are still held back by cost and regulatory issues. Two-thirds of the more than 500 physicians surveyed use mobile daily.

The report also states, “Nearly half of physicians indicate they’re using mobile medication-interaction applications right now, by far the most cited current usage of mHealth technology. The reason is clear: it’s easy to deploy a mobile application during the exam, at the point in which a physician is making prescription decision.”

When asked what applications they would consider using in the next 12 months, four applications earned the vote of more than 35 percent of physicians:

• Mobile EHR access; point-of-care information on drugs
• Medical devices and diagnoses
• Patient portals
• Secure texting

Fierce Mobile Healthcare reports that due to the prior tech challenges with electronic health records and government changes with federal health programs, many physicians are distrustful of systemic change. They explain physicians are not willing to “jump on the bandwagon” with mobile unless they see compelling evidence of its value. "Many physicians have come to feel displaced by outside powers whose interests are often at odds with theirs," say researchers.

According to the study, top reasons for adoption of mHealth were:

• Time efficiency
• Cost efficiency
• Improved quality and continuity of care
• Improved communication with patients
• Patient demand