A missing link in the personal management of health information
I’m confused.
That’s one of the most important insights around patients and caregivers who find themselves lost in the complexities of healthcare. This is especially true when the condition is complex or confounded by multiple issues or diseases. The cacophony of information has resulted in what some have called ‘information obesity’–a condition that very well have a morbidity all to itself. The new iPad application enables real-time usage and storage of medical records from multiple sources.
Launching its public beta on the App Store , Hello Doctor is designed for people in complex medical conditions, such as cancer and heart diseases.
It enables you to intuitively organize all your medical records in “SmartLists” making sure you can easily navigate and access your records, no matter how many different doctors or clinics you visit.
With 90% of US patients wanting to self-manage their healthcare leveraging technology (Accenture survey, June 20, 2012), Hello Doctor gives patient and caregivers (as well as their case managers) a Personal Health Records (PHR) management system that is more than just storage. Records from multiple electronic and paper sources can be added to the application using the device’s camera, from the iPad library or from Dropbox, providing real-time access (online and offline) to all documents.
How many times did you go to a doctor, realizing you forgot at home one of the medical record the doctor asked to see? As if just being at the doctor’s office isn’t stressful enough. Hello Doctor helps patients make sure this never happens again. Here’s how they summerize some of their unique advantages:
- Need to access older records? Just swipe to see older records of the same type.
- Can’t tell a blood test from urine test? The files are organized according to type of record.
- Need a hard copy for your Doctor? Use the email or fax to send your record in real-time.
A survey conducted by Hello Doctor, in the US, in March 2013 supports the need. The survey showed that 25% of the US population has a medical condition that required them to actively collect and manage medical records for themselves or a loved one. I’m surprised, I think the number is even higher.
Maayan Cohen, Hello Doctor’s CEO builds her platform from an informed perspective. She’s been there herself.
“Unfortunately, almost everyone has a relative who suffers from cancer or a heart condition. I had to deal with it at quite a young age when my partner was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After spending two years as a ‘case manager’ and once I saw him bravely win his battle, I knew I had to create a way to make this process somehow easier for other patients and their families”.
Patient are gaining control
I’ve written about several patient specific initiatives recently. From citizen scientists to to empowered like-minded groups, the era of digital health has helped patients take a more active role in health and wellness. And in health, information is power. Today, the shift of information from healthcare providers to patients is resulting in an empowered patient–a patient who is informed and equiped to help, not replace, healthcare provides by taking a more active and informed role in care. For the doctor, patient and healthcare system, it’s a win-win-win situation. And Hello Doctor is helping drive this transformation.
