Mobile health technology--can it help the underserved? Part I

This past week, a classmate presented her project on how mobile health technology provides medical advice and reminders to people who live in remote areas that have limited access to physicians. I am curious to see how these ideas are used in the US, and specifically Athens.

First, some background.

What is mobile health?

Mobile health technologies use mobile communication devices such as cell phones and tablet computers to provide health services. 

What health services can mobile technologies provide?

Services are currently centered on preventive health and monitoring as opposed to treatment:

-reminder texts to take medications

-tracking the spread of diseases

-giving health workers a way to keep electronic records about a community's health

Cons:

-technologies are not yet tested for impact on health

-technology is not reliable: phones can run out of batteries, a program can stop working

-in Uganda and South Africa, pilot programs have exploded faster than the Ministries of Healths' health strategy and requirements for mobile apps can keep up; they have begun to limit pilot mobile programs to figure this out

Pros:

-increased access to health services for middle- and low-income communities

-cheaper equipment: $8 eye piece for the iPhone can be used to diagnose malaria and TB (see below)

-has been effective for HIV testing among babies in Zambia and Malawi

<-- This is the prototype microscope that Breslauer et al. designed which can be used to detect Malaria and TB. 

Breslauer DN, Maamari RN, Switz NA, Lam WA, et al. (2009) Mobile Phone Based Clinical Microscopy for Global Health Applications. PLoS ONE.

These are pictures taken with the microscope above. A and B show two different blood stains for patients who have Malaria. C show sickle cell anemia blood (arrows = sickles). -->

You're probably thinking, "Sounds great. How does this work in my community??" There are several layers to how mobile technologies are applied in Athens, Georgia to improve health. Stay tuned for part II.

Sources:

(1) http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/the-benefits-of-mobile-health-on-hold/

(2) http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0006320
(3) http://onlineathens.com/health/2013-04-09/more-health-care-help-available-video-links