Hey Doc, Mobile Matters

You don’t have to sit in a waiting room long to see it. Yet we still look for science to prove it. Perhaps that’s how we learn what works in health care. And if we’re talking about disease management or pharmaceuticals, I’m with you. Take the time. But if we’re talking about patient experience, it’s time to take act: Mobile is everywhere and, therefore, mobile matters.

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, “Eighty-eight percent of U.S. adults own a cell phone (April 2012), and more than half of them use their phone to go online.”

Never mind the teenagers, 94 percent of people between the ages of 30 and 49 own cell phones and 86 percent of people between the ages of 50 and 64 own cell phones. The majority of them access the Internet via that same device.

So do you.

I’ve been in your office as a patient. You’ve handed me your cell phone to show me a website that might help me better understand a medical condition. And, you let me watch over your shoulder as you accessed E-Socrates for our chat about medication. Your use did three things for me as patient.

By handing me your phone to show me the data you were, in effect, saying, “You’re not contagious, you’re my friend and I want you to know what I know.” That is today’s bedside manner inspirational poster moment personified.

But maybe you’re not my doctor and you need the math. According to a 2012 report conducted by Float Mobile Learning, 88 percent of surveyed physicians would like their patients to use mobile devices to monitor health indicators such as weight, blood sugar and vital signs. The same report also found that 80 percent of surveyed physicians use smartphones and medical applications, and some use mobile devices to make quicker clinical decisions.

According to a 2011 report conducted by Jackson & Coker, a leading physician recruiting firm, four out of five practicing physicians use smartphones, computer tablets, various mobile devices and various apps in their medical practices.

Several factors that attribute to doctors’ use of mobile devices including: they are affordable, easy to use and can be easily carried between exams. Well, they’re affordable technologies for patients too. And we use them to gather information and connect with others who might share our health experience. We use mobile and the apps and websites that mobile enables to get better. You can use this information to help me getter better, too.

As an example of how mobile health tools are benefiting health management, a recent study demonstrated that a health-related text messaging system was an effective way to manage diabetes.

Thirty-four patients at a hospital in Peru were used in an experiment; 17 of the 34 were enrolled in a text-messaging program that sent texts regarding risk factors, drug intake reminders, lab tests and medical appointments. The other 17 were enrolled in a control group. Almost twice as many participants in the text-messaging group took their medication as prescribed.

These results go along with Float Mobile Learning’s previous report stating that 40 percent of physicians believe utilizing mobile health technologies will reduce the number of office visits needed by patients. Maybe that part is mixed news. But, patients like it.

So, here’s the deal. You like mobile. Your patients like mobile. Mobile is affordable. Mobile lowers barriers to our communicating with one another. Mobile based solutions can be used to help patients get better and doctors to work with one another. And therefore, mobile matters.

The Problem with Privacy: You and Me

Recent moves by Google and Facebook have more than just a few of us talking about privacy. Yet, I think the conversation is misdirected. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that we’re not that concerned about privacy. What we’re interested in is control.

A few weeks ago Google decided to add all of your Gmail recipients as friends on Google Buzz. And, Facebook decided that you’d want your friends and brands to know which sites you’re visiting and which of your ‘likes’ were really expressions of a brand preference. So, they default their systems to do just that. Share everything as you visit web sites.

In the end they may have been right. After all, most of us who are still carrying around a little angst regarding our high school popularity or lack thereof want to have as many friends as possible. So, thanks Google and while you’re at it, can you get that cute little redhead in Honors English to sign my yearbook? As for Facebook, aren’t we already expressing likes and interests in everything from American Idol to Zappo? And, posting pictures of little Johnny’s spelling bee championship trophy? So, Facebook thanks for allowing me to accelerate the word-of-mouth that is my opinion.

But they were wrong. Right? Yeah, maybe. They were wrong to assume that just because we’ll share every little thing in our lives that they can share it too. Google responded by disabling the default. Facebook has essentially done the same with an “opt-out” feature for changing the option regarding sharing info with web sites (just check the Privacy Settings/Web Sites of your Account). All they really had to do us tell us about the benefits, prompt us with a message at sign in, and allow us to “opt in” or “opt out” immediately upon launch of the new feature. My guess is most of us would have retained the default settings. After all, we’re all but over the secrecy of the Information Age. We simply want to know where the kill-switch is when our data spills out onto the social web.

Talk to me www.twitter.com/timbigfish

The Social Web and Really Cute Shoes

The question from the audience was simple. The response was equal parts a first step toward the social web and a fashion tip -- accessorize.

He asked, "Won't these social plugins and sharing utilities seem out of place on our old web sites?" I couldn't help myself. The audience was nearly 70% female and a guy was asking what essentially was a fashion question. My response was this, "Ladies, should last year's dress keep you from rocking this season's cutest shoes?"

Sure, from a technical point-of-view the social web is about web parts that are easily identified by users and shared via APIs but the spirit of it is embracing the cultural shift toward participation and enabling users (not search algorithms) to determine what is relevant on the web.

The social web is not a fade but it may seem fashion forward to those from the Information Age. Still, having a web wardrobe that isn't "this season" is no reason to hide yourself in the closet. Develop a strategy for stepping out. In the meantime, accessorize your current site. There are plenty of affordable ways to do it. By the way, I hear that it starts with the shoes (or, the addthis utility).

Talk to me twitter.com/timbigfish