We talked about this briefly in class a couple weeks ago, but AFP has a new article about the critical role cell phones and mobile messaging is playing in health care in Africa.
In particular, one of largest clinics that supplies HIV/AIDS treatment, uses text messages to remind patients when its time to come and pick up their next round of medication. Since instituting the program, they've seen missed appointments (which can be deadly both for the individual and contribute to building resistance to the medications) fall from 15% to 4%.
We also talked briefly in class about how many mobile phones exist in Africa, and according to the article, the answer is 624 million, which is about 2/3 of the entire population of Africa.
I'm really encouraged to see health care providers taking innovative steps and incorporating new digital solutions to meet their patients' needs and save more lives. And I, personally, with this would come to the US. I'd appreciate a text message reminding me to pick up my prescription, or schedule my six-month tooth cleaning.
What do you think? Would you like your health care providers to use text and mobile messaging to get in touch with you? Do you think this will ever come to the US?
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2 comments:
I think it is a very effective tool in Africa and I think it is starting to catch on here. CVS leaves me voice messages when my refill are about to run out and I love it. I think a text reminder about check-ups would be great. Or what about texting questions to a nurse? Crowd sourcing colds? I think there a million uses for social media in the health care industry and hopefully it catches on here soon.
I am not sure I want to get text messages from my doctors - I feel like there would be a lot more text messages than I needed, and it would just add up to the stress of being reachable 24/7.
However, I think text messages played a very important role in raising donations for Haiti and Japan and are definitely a necessary tool in humanitarian efforts.
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