The healthcare industry is on the brink of a new era and as their systems evolve, biotech medical professionals around the world are using mobile devices to deliver greater patient care.

Edna Boone from mHIMSS, a non-profit devoted to the improvement of health through technology wrote an article for Mashable.com. Here’s my summary of her article relating to the biotech and healthcare industries.

There’s no doubt that new technology is constantly improving the mobile user experience and that’s exactly what many in the healthcare world are expecting as they shift to mobile devices such as tablets to streamline and improve patient care.
Below are a few statistics showing the increasing amount of healthcare mobile users:

• By the end of 2012 mHealth (or mobile health – a term used for the practice of medicine    and public health that is supported through mobile devices) will be downloaded 44 million times. This is expected to increase to 142 million downloads by 2016.
• 13,000 consumer health apps will be available to download on the iPhone by this summer. More than half are for medical professionals.
• More than 80% of physicians own a mobile device. 30% of physicians are using both smartphones and tablets to treat patients.

Here’s how a few Healthcare and Biotech Brands Around the World are Improving Patient Health through Mobile Technology.

Keeping Tabs On Your Physical Activity
Having a hard time establishing or staying on track with your physical activity routine? Now there are mobile apps like FitBit that help track your everyday steps, meals, calories burned, sleep patterns, etc. The habitual monitoring and record keeping of your exercise activities encourages healthy activity, everyday, wherever you might be.

Improved Global Health
In many parts of the world quality healthcare is a luxury. Often patients walk into a hospital with a treatable disorder, but perhaps the attending physician doesn’t have the correct resources or information to diagnose. Organizations like Health eVillages are working to fix this problem by donating mobile phones and iPads pre-loaded with medical reference technology.

Linking Hospitals and Expertise
Thanks to mobile devices medical professionals now have far greater access to patient information and medical databases, enabling consultation with other experts through mobile platforms like HealthSync. This program includes a system where caregivers and physicians have instant access to vital health information – when they need it most. Moving to an interconnected system of mobile devices not only helps contain all the information needed in one place, but it also allows healthcare providers to make the best decisions based on the latest and most accurate information. This tool can help with registration functions, increasing medication compliance, as well as overall communication between healthcare professionals.

Paying It Backwards
The U.S. VA just announced that they are planning on supplying 1,000 family caregivers across the country with iPads pre-loaded with health apps to help streamline veteran care and encourage patient compliance. Now our veterans and their caregivers can enjoy an improved quality of life without leaving home so often for healthcare support. The VA also says this program will help provide a growing understanding of what veterans need for treatment and care.

Click here to read the complete article 5 Ways Mobile Tech Can Help Improve Your Health