Suyati Technologies
  • Services
    • Salesforce Services
      • Sales Cloud
      • Service Cloud
      • Marketing Cloud
      • Einstein
      • Experience Cloud
      • Mulesoft
      • Commerce cloud
      • Finance cloud
      • CPQ
      • Consultation
      • Implementation
      • Integration
      • Custom Development
      • Salesforce DevOps
      • Support & Maintenance
      • App Development
      • Managed Services
    • IT Services
      • Content Management Services
      • Analytics
      • RPA
      • Front end Technologies
      • Microsoft Applications
      • Cloud
      • DevOps
      • Snowflake
  • Approach
    • Development Methodology
    • Engagement Model
    • Consulting
  • Intel
    • Blog
    • eBooks
    • Webinars
    • Case Studies
  • About Us
    • Management Team
    • Advisory Board
    • Our Story
    • Testimonials
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Suyati Technologies
  • Services
    • Salesforce Services
      • Sales Cloud
      • Service Cloud
      • Marketing Cloud
      • Einstein
      • Experience Cloud
      • Mulesoft
      • Commerce cloud
      • Finance cloud
      • CPQ
      • Consultation
      • Implementation
      • Integration
      • Custom Development
      • Salesforce DevOps
      • Support & Maintenance
      • App Development
      • Managed Services
    • IT Services
      • Content Management Services
      • Analytics
      • RPA
      • Front end Technologies
      • Microsoft Applications
      • Cloud
      • DevOps
      • Snowflake
  • Approach
    • Development Methodology
    • Engagement Model
    • Consulting
  • Intel
    • Blog
    • eBooks
    • Webinars
    • Case Studies
  • About Us
    • Management Team
    • Advisory Board
    • Our Story
    • Testimonials
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Suyati Technologies > Blog > What Is Going to Be the Focus in 2014? mHealth, Telehealth, or Connected Health?

What Is Going to Be the Focus in 2014? mHealth, Telehealth, or Connected Health?

by George Vijay February 19, 2014
by George Vijay February 19, 2014 0 comment


Of late, the three hottest topics of discussion in healthcare have been ‘mhealth,’ ‘Telehealth,’ and ‘Connected Health.’
What are these terms? And what impact do they have on contemporary as well as future healthcare? These are just some of the questions doing the rounds at almost every conference, forum, and discussion.
To explain any of them, we must take a short look at the concept of eHealth first. eHealth initially emerged as a concept in healthcare practice towards the end of the 1990s. While some people limit the definition of the term to “healthcare-practice using the Internet”, others have gone a bit broader across the field, and included healthcare informatics in the term’s ambit. The actual definition and scope of the term varies; but the general consensus is that it refers to the practice of healthcare with the support of electronic processes and communication.
This makes it an all-encompassing term that includes electronic health records, e-prescriptions, healthcare informatics, healthcare knowledge management, and healthcare information systems. As such, it becomes the larger concept that encompasses mHealth and Telehealth.
mHealth
mHealth refers to the use of mobile computing devices such as smartphones, PDAs, tablets, etc., in accessing as well as disseminating healthcare-related information and healthcare delivery. The 2010 mHealth Summit of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) defined mHealth as the “delivery of healthcare services via mobile communication devices.”
The rapid development of mobile technology, along with greater access to this technology have led to the largescale development and acceptance of mHealth. With the increasing prevalence of mobile devices has also come the benefits of leveraging this technology – lower costs and increased healthcare access. This is especially true in developing countries, where higher population growth, coupled with smaller healthcare workforces are the norm.
mHealth has redefined the methods that can be used to acquire, store, share, and process data as well as information. As such, it has revolutionized healthcare.
Telehealth
In a narrow sense, Telehealth is the “two-way exchange of information between patient and physician”. But then, developments in technology have enabled healthcare practitioners to reach out to a much larger segment.
Telehealth works by monitoring the vital signs of a person with the help of a telephone line or broadband. These vitals are then transferred to a healthcare professional or to a monitoring centre. In a broader sense, Telehealth could also include video-based interactions, allowing physician and patient to interact in real time, irrespective of geographic location and separation.
Connected Health
If you were impressed by the above two developments, prepared to be surprised. For, neither mHealth nor Telehealth is going to be the focus in 2014! The buzzword for the new year, as well as the years to come, will be the much broader concept of ‘Connected Health’.
So, what exactly is Connected Health? Simply speaking, it is a healthcare delivery model that uses technology to provide healthcare remotely.
With the multiplication of devices that can be used for sharing and communicating health information, it is easier as well as more economical to collect information from a variety of sources. This information can be then safely stored and processed in a central location, to be disseminated to a wider target audience. This has improved the overall reach and efficacy of healthcare, while reducing costs.
According to one survey, over 300,000 patients all over the world with heart conditions, diabetes, hypertension, or mental problems were remotely monitored in 2012. Remote monitoring allowed patients to use devices to collect and send medical data from their home to the clinic for physicians to monitor and track. This has meant easier and earlier intervention, added to cost savings in terms of lesser hospital readmissions, transport, travel, and so on.
Another aspect to the ‘connectedness’ is social networking. With the proliferation and profusion of social networking sites, it is easier for patients to connect with physicians virtually, and share information. Blogs and forums are making it easier for patients to seek expert opinion, bypassing expensive hospital trips as well as interminable delays in the waiting room.
The advent of wearable computers like the Google Glass and the smart watch are allowing people to connect even more easily and intuitively. Moreover, with ‘connectedness’ being the norm in society along with the ‘Internet of Things’ now turning into a reality, terms such as eHealth and mHealth will have to be sidelined. Healthcare is inexorably moving towards a more ‘connected’ state too, and the focus in the years to come will be more on the holistic ‘connectedness’ of it, rather than on any component thereof.
To discover how your Healthcare organization can tackle 2014, and the future beyond, get in touch with us: services@suyati.com. Or, visit our healthcare page.
Learn more about George Vijay, our Healthcare Informatics Evangelist.

Image Credit: HealthGauge on Flickr

0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterLinkedinTumblr
previous post
Seamless Integration of .Net with Force.com Canvas – Salesforce Webinar
next post
What is Salesforce CRM and What Does it Do?

You may also like

What you need to know before kick-starting cloud...

January 13, 2022

An Eye-opener into the Future Trends in Salesforce...

January 13, 2022

Seven Key IT Outsourcing Trends to Expect in...

January 13, 2022

How to Select the Right Partner for a...

January 13, 2022

On Premises vs Cloud CRM: Which is Better?

September 28, 2021

Choosing between Cloud and On-Premise Servers for your...

September 28, 2021

Broken Customer Experience? What’s the Fix?

August 19, 2020

Are Remote Proctored Exams a New Reality?

August 18, 2020

10 Exciting Features in Salesforce’s new Summer ’20...

August 17, 2020

Importance of Data Analytics in Developing Smart Cities

August 11, 2020

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Keep in touch

Twitter Linkedin Facebook Pinterest

Recent Posts

  • What you need to know before kick-starting cloud implementation

    January 13, 2022
  • An Eye-opener into the Future Trends in Salesforce Commerce Cloud

    January 13, 2022
  • Seven Key IT Outsourcing Trends to Expect in 2022

    January 13, 2022

Categories

  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Services
    • Salesforce Services
      • Sales Cloud
      • Service Cloud
      • Marketing Cloud
      • Einstein
      • Experience Cloud
      • Mulesoft
      • Commerce cloud
      • Finance cloud
      • CPQ
      • Consultation
      • Implementation
      • Integration
      • Custom Development
      • Salesforce DevOps
      • Support & Maintenance
      • App Development
      • Managed Services
    • IT Services
      • Content Management Services
      • Analytics
      • RPA
      • Front end Technologies
      • Microsoft Applications
      • Cloud
      • DevOps
      • Snowflake
  • Approach
    • Development Methodology
    • Engagement Model
    • Consulting
  • Intel
    • Blog
    • eBooks
    • Webinars
    • Case Studies
  • About Us
    • Management Team
    • Advisory Board
    • Our Story
    • Testimonials
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

© 2021 Suyati Technologies


Back To Top
Suyati Technologies

Popular Posts

  • 1

    What are the Top 3 risks for implementing a CX Program?

    August 30, 2019
  • 2

    Do you need a separate CX Team at your company?

    September 2, 2019
  • 3

    How to build Employee Advocacy for your Business?

    September 3, 2019
  • 4

    What is Salesforce CRM and What Does it Do?

    February 19, 2014
  • 5

    Tips to Reduce Salesforce Pricing

    February 17, 2015
© 2021 Suyati Technologies

Read alsox

Trending IOT Applications in Retail

December 14, 2018

SCL Season2- Marvelous season of cricket begins!

February 26, 2016

When to choose cloud apps or native apps for your...

July 19, 2019

By continuing to use this website you agree with our use of cookies. Read More Agree