I just returned from a conference on the use of mobile devices in healthcare. Here’s what stood out:

1. Mobile is being used successfully with chronic diseases by keeping patients out of the hospital, which reduces cost.

2. Many mobile apps are used by healthy people to monitor their weight, calories and other health information.

3. There are thousands of apps, but only a small fraction have more than 500 downloads.

4. Data from the apps does not automatically flow in a usable format to a database that can analyze the data.

5. Consumers, patients, people are ready and willing to use apps. Providers are hesitant because they don’t know who is going to analyze the data.

6. Mobile is not yet integrated with other healthcare systems.

7. According to the UN, there will be more connected devices than people by 2014.

8. Mobile will be the largest health and wellness platform. 25 billion connected devices by 2030.

9. Denmark is the leader by making mobile health and telemedicine the backbone of their healthcare system. They are planning to
reduce the number of hospitals and add new relevant functions.

10. Patients are more involved with their healthcare using mobile apps.