Is Mobile a Practical Solution to Improving Chronic Disease Management?

Chronic conditions are notoriously difficult for providers and patients to manage.

The National Council on Aging reports that 85 percent of older adults have at least one chronic disease and chronic disease management attributes to 95 percent of healthcare costs for older Americans. According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report published by the CDC in 2020, diabetes continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States. And, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that the total cost of diagnosed diabetes hit $327 billion in 2017. That number is up 26 percent from the last time ADA reported on the cost.

The core challenge for healthcare providers is engaging chronically ill patients in their day-to-day health management to improve care efficiency and contribute to better outcomes.

Why a Mobile Solution Works

As the elderly population grows, managing chronic conditions such as diabetes will be critical to improving patient outcomes and controlling healthcare costs. Healthcare providers must implement strategies and tools to help patients manage their care.

One method to accomplish this is leveraging mobile health technology. Mobile condition management tools fit nicely into the day-to-day of most patients and offer providers more avenues towards engagement.

Market research indicates that mobile technologies will continue to become a prevalent feature of the healthcare landscape. The growth of the mobile healthcare market has even more significant implications for chronic condition monitoring by allowing patients to make condition management a more consistent part of their lives.

Testing the Effectiveness of Mobile Diabetes Management

We had three health coaches and 13 patients, or their caregivers, participate in a program where they collaborated to manage their diabetes together using the YourCare Management^TM solution. Patients and caregivers also had the opportunity to connect with other diabetes patients through the MEDHOST Mobility Support Group app.

Health coaches assigned tasks and goals to patients through the MEDHOST YourCare Management solution. Patients and caregivers would then log data daily through the MEDHOST Mobility YourCare Everywhere app. The app used notifications to nudge patients when tasks were due, and the dashboard alerted health coaches when readings were outside the normal range. Notifications provided physicians real-time opportunities for interventions, adjustments, and wellness plan support.

Using mobile technologies that enable healthy lifestyles and condition management practices, patients are empowered to take a more active role in their care. Patients and providers can utilize real-time data and communication tools to create a stronger, more functional connection. The top goals being:

• Overall improvement of medication adherence
• Reduction in hospital readmissions
• Enhanced quality of life

Along with providing candid feedback about how the app and program might be improved and expanded upon, such as its potential for managing multiple chronic conditions simultaneously, participants also shed some light on several benefits of the MEDHOST suite of apps:

• Patients and caregivers found the app helpful in collaborating
• Clinicians found patient charts helped them easily identify patient trends
• Patients were more likely to join the safe and secure digital support groups
• Notifications helped remind patients to comply with their care plan

This program also revealed that the use of newer technology was effective with older generations and younger participants.

To learn more about how the full catalog of MEDHOST mobile and Digital Patient Management solutions can help you elevate the level of care provided at your facility, please reach out to us at inquiries@medhost.com or call 1.800.383.6278.