How Medical Professionals Use Texting and Still Comply with PHI

by Holly Shoemaker

In a previous blog I recapped how text messaging had become a preferred method of communication for those working in the emergency room (ER). Now, some medical professionals have looked at texting as a means of sending information regarding patient follow ups.

Study at a Glance and HIPAA

A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) looked at using text messaging to follow up with lower-income parents whose children had received a flu shot and needed follow-up visits.

The participants determined they wanted to send targeted messages, which were to include the child’s name and a reference to a “second flu shot.”

That seemed like an easy and effective way to remind parents about a follow-up visit, and texting provides an easy way to communicate with a majority of patients. However, there were problems with the language. The message contained Patient Health Information (PHI) as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Under HIPAA, all communication must protect patient information. In this case, the message had the patient’s name and implied he/she had already received a flu shot. Those two pieces of information violated patient privacy.

Text messaging is also not considered a secure form of electronic communication. Even when sent by secured means, there is no way to guarantee the intended recipient receives the message.

The study team found away to protect PHI. It eliminated names and made the language generic. Instead of saying that a child needed a second flu shot, the team send a reminder that some children may need a second one. The message ended by prompting the recipient to call for an appointment.

Concluding Thoughts

The study serves as a good reminder for those medical professionals who prefer texting. It is a feasible means to communicate as long as the messages keep patient information private. The study also sets a standard on how to comply with HIPAA and PHI.

Medical Mobile App Clearance Times Decrease

by Holly Shoemaker

The Emergo Group, a medical device consulting firm, has provided updated information that shows the time it takes for apps that undergo the 510(k) process has decreased.

Numbers at a Glance

The study shows that medical mobile apps that undergo the 510(k) process takes about 138 days to receive clearance from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011, which was down from 146 days in 2010.

The data analysis took submissions through the end of 2011 to look at a 12-month data set. The analysis showed that 95 to 97 percent of all 510(k) applications received FDA clearance within one year of submission.

What is 510(k)?

The 510(k) status is a pre-market submission made to the FDA to show that a device may be marketed as safe and effective. Introducing a new device or changing the usage are some reasons for needing this clearance. The FDA publishes further guidelines here.

Good News for Developers 

One of the hurdles for developers designing medical mobile apps was the time needed for clearance. Any additional delay meant using more time, money and other resources. What the study found was that many medical mobile apps have a shorter wait time for clearance when compared to other devices.

Another study by MobiHealth News found 76 cleared apps in the FDA’s 510(k) database, and the average clearance time was less than the time reported by Emergo Group. This study found the clearance time was 25 days shorter between 1997 and 2012, with an average time of 110 days.

Outstanding Issue

Developers continue to debate what the time for clearance actually means. The FDA’s data defines the dates as when the agency receives the 510(k) application and the official “decision date.” Some developers and companies say the wait for clearance is longer because discussions occur before the actual filing of the application.

While medical mobile apps requiring FDA clearance takes more planning, developers have many tools to assist them. I still recommend using Happtique guidelines to assist, as that app store dedicates itself to just health apps.

Concluding Thoughts

No matter which study patients believe has more validity, both show progress when it comes to medical mobile apps clearance. That is untimely good news for patients too because they gain access to better quality information. Once approved, the device is deemed safe and effective, which helps marketing efforts and branding.

Simple Communication Steps to Enhance Patient Awareness

by Holly Shoemaker

While healthcare changes are on the horizon, doctors and medical professionals still face challenges regarding the best ways to keep patients informed. Before deciding on the tool used to communicate information, physicians and medical professionals need to ensure they choose the most appropriate way of communicating with patients.

Simple Steps to Follow

• Make Information Available in Many Ways – Simply put, people learn in different ways. Some are auditory learners, others learn by reading, some are kinesthetic learners and others need a variety of approaches. Doctors should consider these methods when communicating with patients and understand how patients best process information. Verbally mentioning information is not always enough to truly communicate. Providing information in a written form, or along with a visual, reinforces points and helps patient remember information related to their own care or conditions of family members and friends.
• Jargon – While patients need access to healthcare information in multiple forms, verbal communication will remain a primary way to communicate with a doctor. Many medical terms may be out the realm of a lay person’s vocabulary. Doctors should ensure they tailor their speech and communicate in terms that reach all patients.
• A Word Is Not Always Enough – Do not always assume that a patient may take a medical professional at his/her word. Use of current research will reinforce suggestions and may serve as a way to open up further dialog, or make a patient feel they may ask questions to better process information.

Concluding Thoughts

By first ascertaining the ways patients take in information, doctors and medical professionals may then decide on the proper channels of communication. The technology itself only becomes effective after the medical community first learns how patients take in information to stay informed.

Online Retailers and the Mobile App Profit Dilemma

by Holly Shoemaker

A recent report from research2guidance reported that in 2012 most online stores made less than five percent of their revenue from a mobile app. 

Numbers at a Glance

The company surveyed more than 600 mobile-commerce companies and found the following:

• Almost 19 percent of e-commerce companies made more than 25 percent of revenue via mobile channels. 
• One third reported that they expected to generate more than a quarter of their revenue from mobile within the next five years. In addition, 15 percent of those companies reported that they planned to generate half their revenue from mobile apps.
• For online retailers to profit from mobile apps, they need to achieve downloaded numbers of more than two million. At this time, many online stores only achieve a few thousand downloads. 

Mobile Ad Spending to Grow

eMarketer predicts that U.S. mobile ad spending will reach $7.19 billion in 2013 and more than $20 billion in 2016. Despite those numbers, mobile only entails a small percentage of total ad spending. It comes in at just 2.4 percent. If the number increases as expected to $20 billion in 2016 that will bring the percentage to 11 percent – that means it will rank higher than radio, but will not overtake print.

Hope for Online Retailers?

The future for online retailers and revenue from mobile apps depends on the goods or services sold. Stores that sell virtual goods perform well. Companies that sell game apps and upgrades or virtual goods inside them also have a better chance at becoming part of the exclusive five percent.

RIM's Port-A-Thon Has Hours to Go

by Holly Shoemaker

Developers looking to make a little cash from Research In Motion (RIM), have a few hours left today. In anticipation of its BlackBerry 10 launch on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, RIM is conducting another Port-A-Thon, a 36-hour marathon that began at noon on Friday, January 18, 2013. In that 36-hour span, RIM will pay Android developers $100 for every approved app that gets ported over to BlackBerry 10. There is a a limit of 20 paid apps per developer.

Port-A Thon Rules

RIM has allocated $500,000 toward distribution, and to qualify developers must register and submit their apps into the BlackBerry World Vendor Portal by 11:59:59 PM EST on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Any app submitted outside that timeframe, will not count, and BlackBerry must approve all apps.

Valuable Sessions?

RIM sees value in these sessions, and the Port-A-Thon held on January 11, 2013 brought in over 15,000 apps. RIM ultimately needs to gain back consumer satisfaction and apps provide a way to do that. However, the company needs to hope that top apps get transported over and meet the needs of all stakeholders involved.

URL Redirect and Testings Keys to Successful QR Codes

by Holly Shoemaker

With the increase in smartphone use, quick response (QR) codes are becoming a way to get the latest deals and promotions out to consumers. They were an integral part of holiday shopping, and the U.S. Postal Service and others will continue to place emphasis on them as part of their marketing campaigns in 2013.

What is a QR Code?

A QR code is simply a readable bar code that stores up to 4,296 characters of information in its data. Bar codes may come in different patterns, multiple shapes and colors. However, the pattern in the corners should always remain clear.

Designing an Effective Code

While the color, pattern and shape of the code may vary, there are some basic guidelines developers should adhere to when developing a QR code:

• Keep the code simple – A more complex code will lead to a larger code pattern, meaning the image projected on the smartphone will become larger for the consumer to read. Therefore, developers should simplify the code to keep the image easy to read.
• Use a shorter URL – Keep the URL small. When the URL becomes larger, so does the pattern of code. When the code stores more information, the image becomes harder to read.
• Create a URL Redirect – The URL itself is often the biggest long-term challenge for developers because QR codes cannot be edited. If the code needs altering, companies will need new marketing materials because the old code becomes void. To avoid the costs associated with printing new materials to accommodate a new code, create a URL redirect or URL forwarding. This allows developers to have the code land where it needs, without changing the URL itself. A URL redirect also keeps the URL shorter, easier to manage and allows the developer to change the end location without the need for editing.

Always Test and Test Again

As with all apps, developers need to test the code. First, print the code to make sure it fits the needed specs. Then use a few different scanners to ensure the bar code works. Make sure the phone works across platforms and devices so test on iPhones and various Android devices. Developers should also test with different lighting as the end user will not always scan the code under the same lighting conditions.

Concluding Thoughts

Keep the URL short and the pattern easy to read. If the URL goes astray from where the end user needs to land, the code itself becomes useless. Therefore, test the code to ensure it works under multiple conditions to take into consideration multiple scanning scenarios.