Monday, November 8, 2010

Is the Cell Phone the Future of Case Management?

In today’s evolving tech world—with iPads, Wii, iPhones, Droids, and more—the simple cell phone can seem a little "low tech"... But, according to Howard Rosen, chief executive officer of LifeWIRE, the cell phone can fundamentally change health care for consumers with chronic conditions.

According to Mr. Rosen, the cell phone is emerging as a viable case management tool for consumers with chronic complex conditions – serious mental illness, substance abuse, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, pain management issues, etc. The cell phone is the tool of choice because it is ubiquitous, and a natural part of today’s mobile lifestyle. Cell phones are familiar, intuitive, consumer-friendly, non-intrusive, easy to use, and in the case of the LifeWIRE solution, no extra software and equipment are required.

How are cell phones currently being used? While managed by case managers from the web, cell phones can be used to easily maintain contact with consumers, provide reminders about medication and appointments, and provide encouraging statements. They can also support consumer empowerment by assisting with self-management of a disease through interactive mobile assessments and monitoring of risk factors. Depending on the nature of the interactions, the cell phone can also be used to mobilize support for the consumer’s recovery process and through notifications to 3rd party providers, family members, and identified "buddies."

There are benefits for professionals too. Professionals can manage the consumer from their computer by giving responses as consumers provide real-time data on symptoms and their recovery status. Or, if time constrained, use LifeWIRE’s automated notification to manage those patients that need more immediate attention. And, using basic cell phone technology can allow for the "automation" of some tasks – such as routine reminders and questions, like "how effective has your medication been this week?" However, deploying cell phones in the case management process is not without policy, personnel, and reimbursement challenges.

To learn more about deploying cell phones in your case management activities, join Howard Rosen in our session, "Using Technology to Create Disease Management & Community-Based Service Programs" on Thursday, November 11th in Baltimore at the upcoming 2010 Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics.

Sincerely,
John F. Talbot, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President,
OPEN MINDS

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To learn more about mobile technology, read our article, What Can't You do With a Mobile Phone? all members 

This is free for the next sixty days to all registered OPEN MINDS Circle members.

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