Mobile Healthcare Review


Excellent reports back from the first ever Mobile Healthcare Industry Review! The event sold out and we had to turn away further bookings from our site at the healthcare innovator charity, The Kings Fund.
We were delighted to welcome 55 attendees from across the convergence points of health, wireless and telecoms from companies including:

Intel * Cisco *D4 * University of Wales * British Medical Association * British Medical Journal * BBC * Vodafone * Deutsche Telecom * UNICEF * Radiant Capital * BlueLight Partners * BlackBelt Defence * European mHealth Alliance *Medisina Healthcare * Me for Health * Healthcare Momentum * Health Smart * Janssen-Cilag * and many new start ups *

Some themes across the afternoon:

  • It seems apparent a split is forming between those companies still discussing sustainable business models and those who have quietly defined their future strategy
  • 2011 will move beyond trials to commercial deployment, with many announcements of long term trials due in July/August 2011
  • Consumer led momentum is how mobile healthcare will take off – with highly motivated illness groups ready to spend to improve quality of life
  • The NHS is not one customer but a disparate body, making contract wins and communication difficult; it is possible that the move to GP budgetary decision making may enhance the potential uptake of mobile healthcare services and products
  • VCs are looking for a clarified end-to-end vision for a mobile healthcare product and will not back technical innovation only
  • The doctor to patient ratio in developing countries provides a real opportunity for mobile healthcare to step in through PPP, with Government solo financing the aim at the end of such partnerships where real health ROIs are proven
  • D4 survey on UK healthcare providers’ use of mobiles – 97% of registered health providers surveyed use their mobile phone at work, with the largest percentile – 82% - to contact colleagues, and the next use being web access to reference materials and information. Ie. Medical workers have the potential to drive this, but structure needed to build in scale and interoperability.
Round table discussion - Reflections on How UK Healthcare Professionals Use Mobiles and Mobility.

Main points from this session which were –

  • There is a great deal of technology that is already established and working, along with content, but the missing element is the glue to pull it together.
  • Consumer models are changing and will be driven to new levels through MHealth.
  • MHealth will place control and empowerment of health and wellbeing in the hands of individuals, through mobile and portable solutions.
  • The Iphone has shown what is possible, but this is only the start. There is a wide range of new portable/mobile offerings coming to the market.
  • We can and should look at some of the ideas coming from the emerging markets. Solutions developed there have less regulation, and wider adoption. They also use existing technology such as SMS to deliver a wide range of products.
  • Multiple languages are provided through mobile technology, which could be used to open up new opportunities
  • Not all individuals will adopt MHealth – companies need to accept this and target the early adopter market and build on this first.
  • People will pay for solutions that will provide benefit to them and their families
  • MHealth needs to be more structured and should target the basics of healthcare, which are -
    • Improved work flows,
    • Improved patient care
    • And be a cost driver

Therefore, MHealth will empower individuals to take control and responsibility for their own health and wellbeing along with their families, through the power of new portable solutions, with a target of delivering improved healthcare efficiency, reductions in costs, and provide a wide choice and better level of service to patients.

Our focused review events give delegates the opportunity to speak 1:1, and we look forward to bringing more to market. In the interim, we have set up our mobile healthcare review linked in sub-group so review attendees can continue their discussions and bench markings: http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=3718254

BBC Technology of Business reported on mobile healthcare at the event and a piece will be going up on their website on the 27th December. Watch this space! Please do get in contact if you would like to be involved/gain extra coverage with any of our future events in this space.
Find out about our sponsorship, exhibition and marketing opportunities:

Christopher Tudway
Email: Christopher.tudway@informa.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7017 5209
Mobile Healthcare Industry Summit Series 2011: Download our series programme for 2011

Pre-register for Mobile Healthcare Industry Summit 2011 - click here