What To Look For In A Mobile Health System

Mobile health systems are quickly becoming the preferred method of communication and primary access to healthcare, with their features being highly convenient and user-friendly. In fact, 93% of doctors believe that mobile healthcare is just as, if not more, efficient as in-house systems. Quite simply, they are revolutionizing the way healthcare solutions are delivered to patients, as they allow clients to schedule and book appointments, in addition to communicating with practitioners from the same, secure platform.
With a strong mobile health app, patients can access their medical records, as well as pay online, check payment history, and contact their practitioners at any time. Clinicians can compose and manage clinical documents, as well as use medical billing and coding resources to produce high-quality claims. You can also process online payments in real-time, as well as stay connected with your fellow healthcare business team. With the right mobile health app, you can be HIPAA compliant, ensuring you are fulfilling legal obligations as a healthcare practice, and that your patient’s data is highly protected and secure. It’s a win-win situation.

Mobile health systems are highly advantageous for healthcare workplaces and practices and offer a variety of benefits, including:

• Fast access - It’s never been easier to book an appointment or send a message to your practitioner with the use of mobile health. This is no surprise, as the convenience of simply looking at your phone, without needing to call or travel, can result in endless possibilities for healthcare solutions. Automated situations are much more efficient, and once implemented, require minimal effort from practitioners.
• Improved medication management - With automated reminders, patients are more likely to remember to take their medication or refill when necessary. Educational resources on the importance of taking their medication can also increase medication adherence, and can all be done within the mobile health space. This is highly effective, and can easily work to improve clinical outcomes. 
• Easy remote monitoring - Mobile apps are a great way to monitor patient activity in-between visits, as well as notify clinicians if the patient is at risk. Using wearable devices such as fitness trackers and watches, data such as weight, glucose levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and physical activity can be collected for assessment. 
• Improved patient safety - By showing the medication a patient has taken or will take, physicians can easily identify names and doses. With greater recall, the chances of patients overdosing or forgetting to take their medication are significantly reduced.‍
• Better communication - With the ability to connect at any place and time, mobile health accommodates busy practitioner schedules by having secure messaging and calling services. Alerts can be sent to high-risk patients that need to be connected with ASAP, to ensure that those who are needing information are receiving it as efficiently as possible.

Every mobile health system can look vastly different, and some are more tailored to you and your patients’ needs than others. However, there are some universal aspects that you should keep an eye out for when looking for the best mobile health system:

• Clinical documentation - It is helpful to find a health system that can provide a place for you to compose and review patient progress notes. Considering this is a vital component of healthcare practices, you should have easy access to resources and templates that can ensure you are producing the highest quality notes to refer to in the future. Especially considering other healthcare professionals may assess your notes, you must have a secure place to store them. Many businesses provide software for you to create simple clinical notes powerful for healthcare, and it is highly suggested you make this a core feature. 
• Appointment scheduling & reminders - Mobile appointment scheduling systems are essential for smooth operations within a healthcare practice. Patients often prefer to book online due to the convenience and the ability to easily reschedule, as well as to see an overview of available time slots. Appointment reminders complement this process, by informing patients when their next appointment is. These can be scheduled at any point in time, and doing so will significantly reduce costly no-shows.
• Online payments - An online payment system is an excellent feature in mobile apps, and allows a much faster way of processing financial information. At the end of the day, you’re running a business, and online payments minimize the risk of any delays and late payments. Patients will appreciate having the option to make payments in minutes, so patient satisfaction is also likely to increase. 
• Bank-level encryption - Because healthcare practices deal with sensitive data and information, it must be protected at all costs. Encryption is the highest form of data security, and it will greatly boost the protection of your data. Having the right security protocol in places, such as firewalls, anti-virus services, staff education, and good password management, can also provide additional layers of security that you need. ‍
• Interoperability - A good mobile health system needs a high level of interoperability. This means that all healthcare professionals across practices, and patients, can access updated information easily. Considering that patients are often referred between providers depending on the care they need, healthcare professionals need to be able to access their records to understand their health condition. Interoperable systems will be able to achieve this, and ensure you are delivering high-quality healthcare solutions to your clients.

Within the US, there is a growing trend of many business practices shifting towards mobile health systems due to greater healthcare accessibility. 

Because mobile health systems are relatively self-sufficient and allow for healthcare treatment to be delivered online, it has eliminated the need for office costs and administrative staff. Patients don’t need to call to book with online appointment systems, and many medical records are securely stored online, eliminating the time-consuming task of filing. Overhead and labor costs can be cut significantly, which makes mobile health apps and systems financially viable and rewarding.

Mobile health systems also serve as a stepping stone between clinics and communities, with their application bringing in a wider clientele who now have access to healthcare features. Populations that may be isolated or vulnerable can have access to specialist and practitioner care, which makes them a solid option to increase patient engagement. In fact, for many communities, mobile health systems are often the first point of contact with the healthcare system in general. Because of their unique deliverance, mobile health can encourage individuals to trust healthcare and to work towards using in-person services. By eliminating various barriers, mobile health attracts a greater range of patients who are looking to have their healthcare issues treated.

Final thoughts

Mobile health systems have revolutionized the way healthcare is delivered, providing ample opportunity for healthcare practices to grow their clientele and technological knowledge. Due to its convenience and accessibility, mobile applications are quickly becoming the leading option for easy healthcare. 

Patients can book and schedule appointments online, as well as receiving automated reminders to ensure they don’t forget about bookings. Additionally, patients will feel at ease knowing they can access their medical records at any time, and have the ability to contact their doctor if needed. With HIPAA compliant systems, all patient data is kept highly secure with encrypted software, to ensure that patient needs are being met in confidence. 

Further reading:

• Driving change in health care delivery
• Mobile health clinics in the United States