The mHealth opportunity Insights guide: the future for connected healthcare m2m.vodafone.com Vodafone Power to you The mHealth opportunity Welcome Welcome to the fourth Vodafone mHealth Solutions Insights Guide, part of our Health Debate publication series. The Vodafone Health Debate series is The third chapter in the series buildt on part of our continuing commitment to the first two by expanding our examination thought leadership in healthcare. It brings of two major areas that connect human together senior pharma, public and private barriers with politics: privacy and security health stakeholders to learn, share and in mHealth systems; and regulation of debate on issues and new thinking brought mHealth systems and devices. forward by renowned thought leaders and industry experts. The previous publications in this series have provided an in-depth view of some The first in the series examined barriers of the key considerations in adopting presented by human behaviour: issues mHealth services and technology. This of culture change for healthcare guide extends the discussion in a different organisations; doctors; and patients. direction, by focussing on the numerous opportunities presented by mHealth. The second covered “politics and There are many different participants economics” – the need for governments who play a role in the successful adoption to develop new policies and strategies for of connected healthcare and this guide healthcare delivery to embrace the new is intended to present a balanced view world of flexible, mobile services centred through the eyes of three of the key around the patient that is rushing upon beneficiaries: healthcare providers, funders them; and the linked need to change and, perhaps most importantly, patients. funding systems so that doctors and healthcare providers can commission the new types of services – often involving less Jon Lee-Davey, mHealth physical contact with a patient, for example Vodafone M2M – without losing revenue unfairly and with the right incentives to improve patient health and care. 3 Contents Section 1 mHealth: a connected revolution ........................................................................................4 mHealth opportunities for patients ....................................................................................6 mHealth opportunities for healthcare providers ............................................................8 mHealth opportunities for healthcare funders ...............................................................9 Section 2 Benefits for patients: a declaration of independence ...................................................10 Case study: communications revolution for home dialysis ........................................14 Section 3 Benefits for healthcare providers and clinicians ............................................................16 Preventative care: the clinician’s view ...............................................................................17 Computer-Assisted Decision Support: the next level of patient monitoring ........18 Case study: three-way boost for vaccination management ........................................20 Case study: Blackpool builds seamless mobile access to patient systems ..........21 Benefits for healthcare funders: relieving central funding pressure ......................22 It saves cash, but needs investment. Who pays? ............................................................24 The elusive business model ..................................................................................................26 Case study: communications revolution for home dialysis ........................................30 Conclusion: looking to the future ........................................................................................32 Recommendations: six progress points ............................................................................34 References ...................................................................................................................................35 The mHealth opportunity Section 1 mHealth: a connected revolution The “mHealth revolution” – a steady expansion in the use of mobile devices and mobile networks for health and social care (see “What is mHealth?”) – has been a hot topic for almost a decade now in the fields of technology and healthcare. More recently, however, the subject has entered the mainstream. In part, this is due to a boom in mobile M2M is revolutionising all sectors of the Digital care is not only healthy for a consumer devices. Every day, newspapers, economy, from smart metering in the country’s budget. It also improves magazines and websites review the latest energy sector to distribution tracking quality and efficiency, by bringing health and fitness apps; and more and and logistics in manufacturing: and in more mobile technologies that monitor healthcare it is no less transformational. information together, with satisfied health are coming onto the market both as Linking together networks of remote patients in control over their consumer and specialist devices. healthcare devices and monitors using treatment from home. M2M technologies can boost operational The cutting edge topic of “wearable efficiency of healthcare systems, freeing computers” marks just one point on the up resources and cutting costs by helping front line of mobile health monitoring. managers and clinicians track accurate, Now, small monitors can be worn on the real-time data. body, woven into clothing and connected wirelessly to a smartphone or other For patients, it also has the power to internet-enabled device. enhance care quality by extending its reach, making it more personal and bringing it into But the field of mHealth is much broader people’s homes and communities. than this. With the rise of the “Internet of Things”, we are entering a world With miniaturisation, the possibilities for of interconnected devices allowing remote networked devices are becoming automated “M2M” (machine to machine) ever wider. Google[x], the technology communication with extensive applications company’s development lab, recently for healthcare. announced it was working on a “smart contact lens”, for example, which would The advancement of such techniques, and be able to measure glucose levels in the data being generated, means we are tear fluid1. The lens would be made from only just beginning to realise the potential two layers between which is embedded of mobile or remote health monitoring a glucose sensor, with a miniaturised driven by health service providers, for wireless chip to send data to a smartphone example: home units purchased or lent by or computer to help people with diabetes the hospital or other healthcare provider, to manage their condition. The company help with managing a long-term condition. said it is also working on miniaturised LEDs embedded in the lens to alert users when In a world where the population is ageing, blood sugar levels fluctuate. Whether bringing with it a greater prevalence of or not this experiment ever comes to chronic disease and individuals facing market, it shows the potential of small multiple healthcare issues, technological connected devices to monitor and help assistance to help more people manage manage our health and wellbeing – a major their own conditions and stay out of the emerging trend. expensive hospital system, is no longer a luxury: it is essential. 5 In a recent BBC radio discussion about wearable However, she hinted that there is more that What is mHealth? computers, the technology analyst Bill governments and healthcare policymakers mHealth can be defined as Thompson said one of their key aspects would could be doing to encourage the development the application of mobile 2 be “forgettableness” . Increasingly, we will be of mHealth – a theme we will return to in our communications technologies carrying computers and digital communications conclusion. to healthcare, including to devices that will be so lightweight and transmit health monitoring and unobtrusive that we will forget they are there. “The Ministers responsible can do a lot more with treatment data; and to optimise this,” Kroes said. “Digital care is not only healthy the efficiencies of health This is a perfect way to keep a constant watch on for a country’s budget. It also improves quality organisations’ internal processes. health problems that are long term but might only and efficiency, by bringing information together, This includes use of mobile flare up into a serious condition intermittently. with satisfied patients in control over their communications technologies treatment from home.” and networks alongside devices But the potential uses and implications of used within healthcare, some mHealth go far beyond managing long-term It is clear that mHealth offers a wide range of of which can be bought by conditions into wider areas of treatment and opportunities for all stakeholders in the healthcare consumers and some of which care; wellness and prevention; clinical research; system, including the three key groups of patients, will be issued and managed and help for healthcare providers and healthcare healthcare providers and healthcare funders. by health care providers and funders in targeting resources and ensuring clinicians. It also covers the use healthcare systems are functioning in the most This guide elaborates on the opportunities for of these technologies internally by healthcare bodies, for efficient and effective ways possible.