The convergence of information technology and the life sciences, coupled with ubiquitous connectivity, is revolutionizing the way healthcare is accessed and delivered.
Today, a new generation of companies is harnessing information and communication technologies not only to improve care, but also to help people stay well. People won’t leave home today without three things… wallet, car keys, and their smart phone. From monitoring chronic disease and by enabling healthy behaviors, context-aware apps and smart products – and terms like “quantified self” are emerging fast to impact prevention and engagement.
Another example that mobile is moving quickly from a distinct category to mainstream technology in health IT was our friends at the West Wireless Health Institute. The group announced a name change to the West Health Institute (dropping ‘wireless’) “to better reflect the broad work required to lower health care costs”.
We like this move by West, but consider mobile as much more than just a cost lever for healthcare and see it as a key catalyst for consumer engagement (outreach, targeting, onboarding, scheduling, and even payments). In our view, mobile features have quickly become table stakes for vendors who want to be relevant across the healthcare supply chain. Two years ago we introduced the notion of hCloud…or healthcare delivery via cloud. In Q2, we published research about social media in healthcare. Our sixth research report on wireless and mobile health is underway, and it will include insights from the industry leaders who are bringing unique approaches to market that address cost, boost consumer engagement and improve access and quality.
Many of the healthcare organizations we are briefing with are starting to design solutions with mobile strategies integral to the design – a great harbinger of things to come. We see cloud, social, and mobile as mainstream components of the healthcare innovation in a post reform world.
Let us know what you think.