Consumers will drive mHealth adoption

By 2014, mobile Web traffic will have exceeded desktop traffic for the first time. This has truly profound implications, especially for anyone who delivers services or runs a business on the Internet.

In healthcare, where we will see this impact first and most profoundly is with the consumer. By 2015, more than 500 million smartphone users worldwide will have downloaded at least one mHealth app. And apps are only part of the story – the more complete mHealth picture includes wearable devices, systems for data capture and sharing, communication and apps.

But why is mobile different? Unlike fixed-location desktops or even laptop computers, mobile is different for two main reasons.

First – smartphones are highly personal devices that are with us all the time. For most people the phone is within arm’s reach 24/7. Second – smartphones are always on and almost always connected. There is no need to log on, boot up, etc.

This is important for the healthcare sector because it means we are removing barriers for consumers to be more informed and active in capturing, understanding, sharing and taking action on their health and wellness. mHealth helps consumers evolve from episodic ‘sick’ care to more continuous health and wellness management.

There are a few examples of how mHealth is already moving far beyond providing medical information on a mobile phone – companies like Jawbone, Fitbit and, on a more specialized basis, Zeo. All offer wearable devices that track various health-related statistics and report them in a user-friendly way via a mobile phone or Web hubs.

Another example is CareSpeak, a company that offers direct two-way communication between patients and caregivers. There are also a number of start-ups are developing similar approaches to measure things such as anxiety, diet, blood pressure, blood sugar and other key health measures – all designed for the consumer.

In the future, “mHealth 2.0” will usher in increased interoperability and integration between mobile devices and between consumers and providers. At first, this will mean the smartphone acts as a mobile health and wellness hub for the consumer. However, smartphones have the potential to succeed where patient health record’s failed. The second phase of “mHealth 2.0” will facilitate transfer of data between the consumer and their providers’ EHR, allowing healthcare providers to share information and more proactively deliver care. For healthcare, we envision a solution that drives compliance, monitors patient progress and triggers communication between provider and consumer, all through interoperable systems.

What should the industry do to take advantage of these opportunities? The most important thing is to prepare for a future where consumers (who should no longer be thought of simply as patients) have access to more information (their information). This will require healthcare companies build systems that both facilitate this and are prepared to receive and interpret the real-time data that's being generated. The second area of potential is to empower consumers and providers by making the data actionable – think of simplified presentation layers, communications and analytics as places to start.

As mobile consumption continues to rise in healthcare, the smartphone in your pocket will become a low-cost, portable health and wellness hub that will empower consumer-driven care. Through the convergence of universal availability, mobility, connectivity, ease of use and low cost, consumers will take a more proactive role in their health, making mHealth a truly positive disruptive force in healthcare.

Sanjay Pingle is president of Skyscape and Physicians Interactive Holdings and has oversight of the combined Pharma and eCommerce business. Prior to joining PI, he was co-founder and executive vice president of Medsite, a biotechnology and pharmaceutical marketing firm that has been named a market leader by Forrester, Jupiter Research and Frost & Sullivan.