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We Believe Online Health Information Saves Lives

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[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

A recent U.S. survey commissioned by Philips found that consumers believe web-enabled, mHealth and mobile apps are part of their health care solutions and key to living long lives. For example, one in 10 Americans (11 percent) surveyed believe that if it were not for web-based health information, “they might already be dead or severely incapacitated.”

In addition, a quarter of those surveyed use symptom checker websites or home-based diagnosis technology as much as they visit the doctor, while another 27 percent use these interactive applications instead of going to the doctor. Forty-one percent said they were comfortable using websites to check their health symptoms. While about half of Americans (49 percent) are comfortable with symptom checker technologies or home-based vital sign monitors automatically sharing information with their doctor, more than one third of those surveyed believe technology that allows one to monitor his/her own health is now the key to living a long life.

“We are in the early stages of the web-enabled, mHealth, mobile app world of healthcare delivery. Near- future apps will focus on tying together health information technologies, connecting with doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and patients, all within a social context that facilitates shared medical decision-making,” said Dr. Eric Silfen, Chief Medical Officer of Philips Healthcare. “Ultimately, the technological undercurrents of the post-PC world – the power of many, designer gadgets, cloud ecosystems, and mobile app computing – will hasten the personalization and partnerships that will transform sustainable medical care to the highest quality.”

Philips predicts smart devices will enable ease of access and care anywhere. For example, custom web portals such as Philips’ CarePartners mobile app will transport patients, families, doctors and nurses into a secure, virtual space to coordinate long-term medical services. In addition, personal health books will serve as a compendium of an individual’s confidential health information, where they can update and manage the personal, medical and social facets of their care, as well as their beliefs, values and preferences to guide how care will be provided.

Philips commissioned ORC International to conduct a survey among a national sample of 1,003 adults, comprising of 503 men and 500 women ages 18 years and older, living in the continental United States. Data were weighted to be nationally representative.

[Image courtesy: Philips]

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