Guide To Offering Mobile Health Services

Despite the amount of money streaming into the American healthcare system, it is one of the poorest in health due to its lack of accessibility. Mobile health services provide the perfect opportunity to bridge this gap by allowing clients to access treatment and care regardless of their location, financial, or insurance status.  

Mobile health services are a great tool to promote self-management for patients, with patients 78% more likely to play a larger role in the healthcare process. Using its application, clients can now book appointments online, make payments, view their medical records using a mobile health app, in addition to contacting practitioners via video conferencing and messaging. Because of its ease of use, 6.5 million Americans utilize mobile healthcare services each year, with this number continuously increasing due to its reach in isolated communities. 

Mobile healthcare applications also have immense value for practitioners, as they can create and store clinical documentation and electronic health records in a medically compliant manner. Using mobile health services allows for improved clinical outcomes and enables clinicians to better prioritize the needs of their patients and healthcare practice.

Establishing a mobile health service will prove highly advantageous for your healthcare practice, and will allow you to provide the highest level of care whilst being cost-effective. Understanding why you should transition towards mobile care is also just as important as knowing what you want to do, and who you aim to serve; that’s why we’re here to help. 

• Care for the vulnerable - For many isolated and rural communities, traveling to medical facilities is simply not an option. Patients that have children need to seek rearrangements, and patients who have demanding jobs may not have the flexibility to fit appointments in with their schedules. Mobile healthcare services are the best way to provide care for these populations, as it eliminates the need for in-person visits, and patients can be treated from the comfort of their own homes. 
• Innovative - With the rapid expansion of technology, the mobile healthcare industry is fast-growing, and new capabilities are being developed constantly. This means that there are endless possibilities for your clinic to explore, regardless of your healthcare discipline. From dentists to psychologists to physiotherapists, there is something for everyone.
• Good business opportunity - Almost 41 million people in the US find it difficult to visit a doctor, demonstrating that there is a large market your business can monopolize and profit off. It’s a great way to expand your practice, and capitalizing on mobile health will prove immensely beneficial as more patients are able to be seen and treated. 
• Cost-effective - Medical facilities can be very expensive, with expenses including hiring experienced staff, building or renting sufficient facilities, and acquiring the right tools and supplies. Mobile health is a great, affordable option, as it can eliminate these overhead and labor costs due to its online platform. This means your business can inject money into places where it’s specifically needed, preventing financial waste.‍
• Deliver high-quality care - Mobile health services are extremely efficient, as they significantly reduce the downtime between appointments, and also result in fewer cancelations. Not only this, but the care delivered is almost the same effectiveness as in-person visits, and in some cases, it actually increases clinical outcomes. Their convenience is a fantastic asset that will undoubtedly boost your services.

The process of starting a mobile health service is similar to establishing any business startup. You need to incorporate careful planning of finance, marketing, technology, and design aspects, whilst also working in collaboration with the relevant people. It’s not as simple as installing equipment and hitting the road. Effective mobile health services should consider the following aspects:

• Network - Communicate with other healthcare clinics to promote your services, as these facilities may end up referring some of their patients to your mobile app. In addition to this, you should also network with the communities you aim to treat, so you can ensure that you have a base clientele and that you understand their needs. Talking with the target population can help you better understand how to provide healthcare that makes an impact.
• Hire the right team - Having staff who have the technical skills and qualifications, in addition to having the ability to relate and understand people, will supply you with a solid foundation to create an inclusive and knowledgeable clinic environment. With skilled and friendly staff, you can also promote trusting practitioner and patient relationships, which is always celebrated. 
• Invest in the right resources - Picking the right software is a critical stage in providing mobile health services as it is the basis from which you will operate. This means having a clear understanding of what you aim to achieve, and what features can fulfill this need. Often, the best software for healthcare teams will include an appointment scheduling feature so you have an optimized schedule, with the ability to efficiently reschedule appointments in the event of a cancellation.  Software is often also integrated with online payments , facilitating faster processing, and a place to store medical records and clinical documentation. ‍
• Establish a target population - To ensure your mobile healthcare service is successful, you must evaluate the population that you are specifically helping. To do this, you may need to conduct research into where there are high rates of health issues relevant to your discipline, or areas with isolated individuals.

Mobile health is quickly becoming the leading option for healthcare delivery, with over 50% of primary care visits in 2020 being conducted through its services. Although this is largely due to the impacts of the current Covid-19 climate, many healthcare professionals are finding mobile healthcare much more efficient. 

The implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mobile health software means that clinicians can have richer consultations with patients, and more meaningful interactions. Based on data analysis concerning business trends and patterns, mobile healthcare can produce high-tech alert and reminder systems to support your healthcare needs. For instance, appointment schedules can be created in a way that optimizes patient traffic, as well as providing easy rescheduling options. AI can also help you identify critical lab results in electronic health records so you can provide a higher quality of care for patients with improved treatments. 

Interestingly, virtual reality (VR) is also an increasing trend in healthcare. As a headset commonly used for gaming, VR systems can help individuals with cognitive impairments, as well as anxiety and PTSD. These patients can learn from simulated environments that provide access to information that a physical environment cannot, working towards improving symptoms and overall clinical outcomes. 

In conclusion

Mobile health services are the way of the future when it comes to healthcare, and knowing how to harness them effectively will prove immensely beneficial for your healthcare practice. Not only can you reach a wider clientele with the ability to treat patients in rural and isolated communities, but you can also capitalize on the growing trends concerning technology. There is a significant shift in the way that patients receive healthcare with remote services, and many clients have come to appreciate the self-management and self-sufficiency aspects concerning mobile care. Patients can book online, view their records, and easily communicate with practitioners from any time and place. Integrated mobile workspaces are undoubtedly the way to go when it comes to providing the best care for you and your clients. 

Further reading:

• The Promise of Telehealth For Hospitals, Health Systems and Their Communities
• mHealth interventions for weight loss: a guide for achieving treatment fidelity