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Use of smartphones and mobile devices in hospitalized patients: Untapped opportunities for inpatient engagement
Author(s) -
Ludwin Steven,
Greysen S. Ryan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of hospital medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.128
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1553-5606
pISSN - 1553-5592
DOI - 10.1002/jhm.2365
Subject(s) - medicine , hospital medicine , medline , mobile device , medical emergency , internet privacy , family medicine , world wide web , computer science , political science , law
Over 90% of Americans own mobile phones, and their use for internet access is rising rapidly (31% in 2009, 63% in 2013). This has prompted growth in mobile health (mHealth) programs for outpatient settings, and similar growth is anticipated for inpatient settings. Hospitals and the healthcare systems they operate within are increasingly tied to patient experience scores (eg, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, Press Ganey) for both reputation and reimbursement. As a result, hospitals will need to invest future resources in a consumer-facing digital experience. Despite these trends, basic information on mobile device ownership and usage by hospitalized patients is limited. This knowledge is needed to guide successful mHealth approaches to engage patients in acute care settings.