mHealth Tools Will Monitor Millions, Reduce Costs

A burgeoning market for healthcare peripherals and increasing smartphone processing power will result in the number of patients monitored by mobile networks to rise to 3 million by 2016, according to a new report on the mHealth sector from Juniper Research.

Remote patient monitoring, using the smartphone as a hub, will lower the cost of mHealth services by reducing the need for costly tailored devices, the report notes. Juniper found the monitoring of cardiac outpatients is leading the field, as insurance reimbursement in the U.S. market plays a key role.

However, in time the management of diabetes and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) and other chronic diseases will play an important role in the remote patient monitoring market. "Remote patient monitoring will step in to reduce the cost burden of unhealthy lifestyles and aging populations," report author Anthony Cox said...