Introduction
Background literature indicates that recently there has been a remarkable technological revolution in health care. Advances in cellular devices, social networks, data analytics, and wireless connectivity have developed enough to make the conception of wireless medicine an actuality. According to Kumar, Khambantla, Hu, Lifson and Xiao, wireless technologies have enhanced better quality of patient care. In the light of these technological advances stimulated by participative internet use and social media, this paper details the use of Mobile Computing (MC) technologies in health care. It also discusses the implications of social networking in health care support and security alarms about the transmission of private health information over wireless networks.
Monitoring Patient Vital Signs using Mobile Computing against In-Patient Visits to physician offices, hospitals, and healthcare facilities.
Developments in technologies include real-time audio visual for "face-to-face" interaction between doctors and patients and devices that transmit data to a physician's Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Vital signs are essential components of patient care and include such signals as fluctuations in body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rates. Fortunately, all these signs can be taken using mobile technology. Conversely, prior to development of MC patients were required to travel to health care facilities to have these physiological states tested. Typical, clinicians would oversee the taking and recording of the vitals and manually authenticating them with a computer or writing them on paper records. At times, this documentation happened hours later after the examination and therefore permitted the recording of poor information. The vitals were hard to measure and record, and errors were, therefore, very common. These clinical errors were used to make clinical decisions regarding patient’s health care which resulted to poor health provision. As a result, new technologies in patient monitoring are intended to lessen health care expenditure and streamline patient care thus reducing patient risks such as medical errors and the hospital misdiagnosis. (Lewis, 2012)
With today’s technology, patient care is a lot more efficient. The use of smart phones - devices that can monitor multiple patient vital signs has allowed patients to have personalized monitoring of vital signs and body functions. The data can then be forwarded to their medical provider’s EMR servers. Mobile computing has also allowed video conferencing via phones and other broadband-enabled devices for distant consultations with medics. Therefore, the continued use of mobile computing is allowing patients to have a very participatory and active role in health care and prevention.
Advantages and Disadvantages Mobile Computing Technology to Monitor Patients
Technological inventions and innovations are taking healthcare to grander heights and progress. One such revolution is Mobile Health (m-Health). M-Health is Mobile health service where medical practices is reinforced by mobile devices and its applications through innumerable uses such as in multimedia. MC technology is, therefore, shifting healthcare services by making it better, faster and cheaper. MC is also providing personalized medication platform. This health service is making health care provision available from telemedicine to essential health services such as receiving a Short message service (SMS) on vital information and awareness. However with all the lovely markings mobile computing technology has its advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, the ability to pair medical diagnoses with mobile phones significantly enhances the assessment and treatment of critical diseases such as diabetes. Secondly, attainability of portable, easy-to-use and affordable mobile health monitoring technology interchanges medical diagnostics from hospices to non-hospital settings, thus reducing health inequities and improving health outcomes worldwide. Thirdly, it improves a patient’s overall health condition by facilitating the physician to keep track regularly of their patients. Fourthly, the technology is boosting social networks accessibility for doctors and patients to reach out and link to populaces in diverse localities through time and space thus improving health care provision. However, there are a few shortcomings to mobile computing technology as well. For example, chances of system failure could cause major delays about medications. Another setback is that not all people have smart phones or even computers for wireless contact. The greatest disadvantages of mobile computing are the privacy and security of health information transmitted
Security Concerns Regarding patient data over Wireless Networks
Advancement in mobile technologies in the improvement of medical care have brought about associated privacy and security issues. Access rights to Medical data, the security of data transfer and storage and the governing policies are some of the notable issues addressed. The current regulations for medical data such as Health Insurance Prospective Payment System (HIPPS), must be reassessed and adapted to make mobile computing more socially acceptable in the medical industry. Large volumes of data communicated electronically via the Internet and through wireless transmissions should be protected against potential threats such as hacking.
Electronic data storage also has an additional set of security concerns as it opens the door for hackers to access information as definitely as those it anticipated. Consequently, Skimming and eavesdropping are a possibility for wireless transmission. Accessibility of data, storage, and integrity are significant challenges for this type of technology. Lastly, the use of data mining tactics to extract patient Electronic data adds an entirely new aspect to probable threats. Because of these regulations such as HIPPS need to evolve to address these new challenges
Societal Networking for Group Support for Patients with Similar Medical Concerns
Social networking brings together persons who need to discover support and assistance outside of their regular daily relationships to share experiences and advice. Current technology encourages the use of social networks and supports individuals in connecting people with similar medical issues. Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Myspace and countless other social networking sites are powerful platforms for relevant information that could be used by individuals to educate and comfort one another. Social networks allow participants to feel less lonely, isolated or judged. But rather provides a sense of empowerment, enriched adaptive skills and clearer understanding of what to anticipate from their circumstances. Members in this sites are also able to learn and acquire medical information and even compare follow-ups and resources about doctors and alternative forms of treatment. Thus increasing social support and interconnectivity among individuals. (Chou, Hunt, Beckjord, Moser, and Hesse, 2009)
Thanks to mobile technology, health care occurs daily everywhere and every time and is not restricted to the occasional visits to doctors' offices, clinics, or hospitals. Mobile technology has eradicated the problems of diagnoses written manually, doctors not being able to access patient information, and limitations on time, space, and personnel for monitoring patients. While there are drawbacks about security, access, and storage of medical data, the benefits take precedent and offer superior health care.
References
Kumar, S., Kambhatla, K., Hu, F., Lifson, M., & Xiao, Y. (2008). Ubiquitous Computing for Remote Cardiac Patient Monitoring: A Survey. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications, 1-19. Retrieved from http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijta/2008/459185/cta
Lewis, Nicole. (2012). Remote Patient Monitoring Market To Double By 2016. Retrieved from http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/remote-patient-monitoring-market-to-double-by-2016/d/d-id/1105484?
Sylvia, W. C., Hunt, Y. M., Beckjord, E. B., Moser, R. P., & Hesse, B.W. (2009). Social Media Use in the United States: Implications for Health Communication. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 11(4). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802563/
