Frost & Sullivan’s recently published whitepaper, “Mobile Devices & Healthcare: What’s New, What Fits, and How Do You Decide?” examines the strengths and drawbacks of four major mobile device types including smartphones, tablets, push-to-talk communication devices, and machine-to-machine (M2M) remote medical monitoring devices. Each device category is evaluated for application in three unique environments such as hospitals, physician’s offices, and the patient’s home.
“Mobile technology promises to transform healthcare. It all begins with the mobile device, and vendors are working hard to tempt healthcare providers with a broad, and often bewildering, set of choices. Different types of medical staff will have different information and communications needs. The whitepaper offers Sprint as an example of an end-to-end mobile solution provider that has done due diligence and assembled a top-tier portfolio of solutions and partners”, reports Jeanine Sterling, Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst.
Smartphone penetration among U.S. healthcare providers continues to surge as devices become more powerful and convenient along with the growth of medical software applications. Caregivers now use their smartphones to access medical reference libraries, view laboratory results, monitor patient vitals, and to access EHRs.
A second device category that includes next-generation tablets is taking these capabilities and magnifying their usefulness with the aid of larger screens, high resolution displays, and dual cameras.
Even push-to-talk devices are augmenting their instant voice communications with an array of new capabilities providing help in multiple scenarios, including the emergency room and in natural disaster situations.
Lastly, M2M remote monitoring devices are starting to bridge the geographic gap between healthcare providers and patients who are unable to make in-person office visits. In addition to supporting patients with chronic conditions, M2M technology is being used for personal wellness monitoring and for helping elderly or at-risk individuals to live independently.
Go to www.mysprinthealthcare.com/c/front/frontThankYouPage.jsp to download the white paper.
