Smartphones are becoming more and more pervasive. We know this because:  a) we see them everywhere, and b) surveys and research tell us so. In the April 2014 edition of our GreyMatters newsletter, an article mentioned that more Smartphone users than desktop users accessed an e-commerce mobile Web site (90% vs. 78%) in June, 2013. Another article in that same edition looked at survey results showing that increasing numbers of healthcare providers are using Smartphones in their everyday practice. Writing in The Reporting on Health Member Blog, Matt Smith looks at whether Smartphone utilization by healthcare providers promotes efficiency in health care delivery. He discusses several types of healthcare apps that are being used and how they impact the workflow of clinicians.

• Disease management. Certain disease entities have high costs of care associated with them, e.g., heart failure, diabetes, asthma, COPD and depression. Keeping track of patients with these conditions is extremely important to help prevent complications and additional hospital admissions. Apps for disease management can help providers communicate with their patients with these conditions, monitor their status and provide information related to the specific patient condition. Some of these apps may connect with a patient’s EMR, providing additional information for the clinician to monitor the patient’s status.

• EMRs. As more and more organizations convert to electronic medical records, integrating this information with Smartphone apps becomes more realistic. Having the ability to access EMRs via Smartphone can eliminate many time and resource barriers to obtaining patient information. Apps that integrate EMR information can also be used for more routine purposes such as appointment scheduling and checking in for appointments. However, organizations must be aware of privacy issues associated with use of EMRs to access patient information via apps.

• Clinical reference/information. With the entire Internet accessible via Smartphone, clinicians are using their mobile devices more and more to access information necessary for patient care. During office visits and other patient encounters, a wealth of information is available on a provider’s Smartphone, which helps to give patients the most accurate and up-to-date information on their condition. Patients, too, can access health information on their Smartphones, although providers should try to point their patients to approved apps that are known to have valid and accurate information.

• Social communities for patients and caregivers. Online communities for various health conditions can be accessed via Smartphone. These communities provide additional support and information for patients. Social media apps are also being developed for clinicians to enable them to discuss treatments and health conditions and allow them to communicate with other providers in their geographical region.

  While mobile technologies have the capacity to improve healthcare efficiency and are, in fact, doing so, there are still challenges. For example, cost is a factor, as many people cannot afford a Smartphone. Also, how do clinicians account for their time using these devices? How will reimbursement issues be dealt with? Smartphones and other mobile technologies are here to stay. The journey to wholly incorporate these devices into our everyday functions will be interesting, to say the least.