The Four Dimensions of Effective mHealth

By leveraging mobile communications' power and reach, mHealth makes it possible to provide a more versatile and personalized approach to health care. However, for mHealth to reach its full potential, four critical dimensions must align people, places, payment, and purpose.

People: Demographics

A nuanced understanding of demographics such as age, gender, and income can point to technology preferences and help drive customization and targeting of users' mHealth experiences.

Places: Local Infrastructure

The convergence of infrastructure needs (reliable local networks – cellular, broadband and wireless, download speeds, and bandwidth capacity) and rapid technological development may be a tipping point for mHealth adoption.

Payment: Reimbursement and Regulatory

Value-based reforms prompt health care organizations to:

• Find more efficient ways to improve care while increasing quality.
• Expand care delivery outside the hospital and physician office.
• Facilitate patient-provider connectivity "anytime and anywhere.