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Mobile Health in Solid Organ Transplant: The Time Is Now
Author(s) -
Fleming J. N.,
Taber D. J.,
McElligott J.,
McGillicuddy J. W.,
Treiber F.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/ajt.14225
Subject(s) - mhealth , telemedicine , psychological intervention , medicine , health care , population , government (linguistics) , health technology , internet privacy , nursing , environmental health , economic growth , computer science , linguistics , philosophy , economics
Despite being in existence for >40 years, the application of telemedicine has lagged significantly in comparison to its generated interest. Detractors include the immobile design of most historic telemedicine interventions and the relative lack of smartphones among the general populace. Recently, the exponential increase in smartphone ownership and familiarity have provided the potential for the development of mobile health ( mH ealth) interventions that can be mirrored realistically in clinical applications. Existing studies have demonstrated some potential clinical benefits of mH ealth in the various phases of solid organ transplantation ( SOT ). Furthermore, studies in nontransplant chronic diseases may be used to guide future studies in SOT . Nevertheless, substantially more must be accomplished before mH ealth becomes mainstream. Further evidence of clinical benefits and a critical need for cost‐effectiveness analysis must prove its utility to patients, clinicians, hospitals, insurers, and the federal government. The SOT population is an ideal one in which to demonstrate the benefits of mH ealth. In this review, the current evidence and status of mH ealth in SOT is discussed, and a general path forward is presented that will allow buy‐in from the health care community, insurers, and the federal government to move mH ealth from research to standard care.