Mobile health applications Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mobile health applications - Dissertation Example Because of its potential, policymakers should better comprehend how information technology is spreading across suppliers, whether act to spur more adoption is required, and thus, what steps may be engaged. This has been included to increase understanding of the current state in the health care industry (Kinkade & Verclas, 2008, p. 31). Information & communications technology have been widely used in many Western countries to improve many aspects of healthcare, such as expert diagnostic systems, online patient records, digital medical information systems to name just a few. Many of these technologies are expensive and involve specialist hardware and services, making them generally used in the developed world. Universal ownership of a much less expensive, generally available device, the mobile phone, has provoked a lot of new ideas about the potential for this technology in developing countries (Kinkade & Verclas, 2008, p. 31). The use of mobile phones has grown at a high rate over the past few years. As such, it has been an essential tool for current human lifestyles. Society has embraced mobile technology into many of its daily activities including banking, health and even in the management of their daily activities. Mobile health has developed through mobile technology promoting what is called m health or m-health in the healthcare sector (Hoyt & Yoshihashi, 2009, p. 20). The world is constantly moving due to technological advancements. The widespread application of information technology led to the mobility of people, which is not only limited to the physical movement and displacement, but it covers virtual activity. Technology bridges the geographic gaps of individuals across the world to maintain and improve communication. Communication has been the centre of the world’s evolution because experts continue to develop systems that would make interaction easy and accessible. IT has been widely used in the field of business due to its proven benefits in enhancing customer satisfaction. Similarly, medical institutions aim to improve patient care through the use of mobile phones. With the extensive use of mobile technology, patient and doctors have established a relationship; hence, it enhances health care quality (Hoyt & Yoshihashi, 2009, p. 20). Mobile health is the new method of interacting with patients. M-Health is defined as a â€Å"service or application that involves voice or data communication for health purposes between a central point and remote locations† (Freng, et al., 2011, p.5). Mobile health Mobile technology is vital in this research since it has the potential to transform healthcare in developing countries, mostly in the area of health consciousness schemes and training health care workers. Mobile phones are inexpensive to the inhabitants at large, making them more obtainable than computers. They are also cost effectual than hospital beds. Mobile phone applications in healthcare are a relatively new field an d some of the literature is very keen about the possibilities that this opens up. Audie et al (2011, p. 34) have suggested that M-Health apps are â€Å"the killer application for cyber-infrastructure for health in the 21st century† –just as the invention of electric light was in the C19th. They go on to say that the enormous growth of electronic and medical health records and bioinformatics together with