Turning mHealth into be the next killer app requires different approach

The significant growth in demand for advanced portable devices and the increase in usage of mobile applications led to the publishing of optimistic forecasts by many analysts concerning the possibility of utilizing mobile health opportunities by Mobile Network Operators (MNO).

Source: Arthur D. Little

A new research by Arthur D. Little follows the general trend, while making several clear recommendations. The bottom line is that mHealth could be the next killer app in the mobile industry, but it requires a completely new market entry strategy.

“The MNO must assess its own capabilities, decide what role it will play and how it will contribute to the service, align the internal capabilities required for the selected business model, and then partner with other players to acquire key capabilities to effectively and efficiently bring patients into the ecosystem,” says Dr. Karim Taga, Director at Arthur D. Little’s Telecoms, Information, Media & Electronics Practice.

The new report, titled: Capturing Value in the mHealth Oasis: An Opportunity for Mobile Network Operators? recommend mobile operators to carefully examine the degree of development and specific characteristics of individual markets in order to launch the appropriate solutions.

It suggests that in developed markets, operators must focus on solutions that fit within the current health care industry structure. At the same time, in emerging markets, the 'Keep it simple' attitude should lead the penetration process. In those markets, mobile operators should focus on mHealth solutions, such as the delivery of medical information by SMS or MMS, medicine reminders, remote data collection, and medical help-lines, that can help improve patients’ access to basic medical care.

The authors note that mHealth has been hailed as the next major development for mobile networks operators, while warning that it might be "wishful thinking from a sector desperately seeking additional revenues to offset margin erosion."

The report concludes that if MNOs adhere to a few simple guidelines they can avoid major obstacles and increase their chances of success. If these guidelines are taken into account, Arthur D. Little believes that mHealth will surpass even the most optimistic industry predictions within the next five years and add significant value to the mobile industry.

We as Aerotel would recommend, in any case, adopting a careful approach which is based on building a strong partnership with other players, who are already active in the market and have compatible advantages. In our view, the natural partnership for MNO would be with health services providers and technology developers, with proven expertise in the eHealth market.

Telemedicine market to more than double by 2015

The global telemedicine market is expected to grow by more than 100 percent in the coming five years, according to a report published by BCC Research.

The report, titled "Telemedicine: Opportunities for Medical and Electronic Providers" predicts that the telemedicine market will be worth some $23 billion in 2015 compared to $9.8 billion in 2010. The company's analysts estimate that the market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.6 percent over the next 5 years.

The authors noted that the global telehospitals and clinics market accounted for 71% of the total Telemedicine market in 2009, and was worth $6.9 billion in 2010 compared to $5.6 billion in 2009. This sector is expected to continue and increase to $15 billion in 2015, at a compound annual growth rate of 16.8%.

The telehome market, which represented 28.5% of the market in 2009, is believed to capture nearly 35% by 2015. This sector is valued at nearly $2.9 billion in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 22.5% annual growth rate to $7.9 billion in 2015.

BCC said that there has been a global focus on the use of telemedicine as a tool to cut down healthcare costs and bring about mammoth savings. 

Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor visits Aerotel at MWC 2011

Shalom Simhon, Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, visited Aerotel Medical Systems at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011 in Barcelona, Spain.

Aerotel's booth at MWC 2011

Simhon was among the hundreds of participants, who came to visit Aerotel and get a demonstration of the company's Mobile Health and Telemedicine Solutions.

The total number of people visiting Aerotel's booth rose in comparison to last year and included senior officials from large telecom companies, system integrators and distributors.

"The main reason for our great success this year is the growing interest of cellular companies and eHealth solution providers in the field of mobile health," said Ofer Atzmon, VP Business Development and Marketing at Aerotel. "This, together with careful planning and meeting scheduling by the Israel Export Institute and Israel's commercial attaches allowed us to meet a large number of potential clients and partners in a relatively short time."

mHealth was one of the areas that received most attention at the MWC. Like Aerotel, most mHealth solutions presented at the show where device centered rather than smartphone-based.

Overall, more than 60,000 visitors from 200 countries attended MWC, marking a record for the mobile industry’s premier event. The four-day conference and exhibition attracted executives from the world’s largest and most influential mobile operators, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies and media and entertainment organizations, as well as government delegations.

Aerotel to present mHealth solutions at MWC 2011

Aerotel Medical systems will showcase its mobile health (mHealth) and other telemedicine solutions at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011, which will be held in Barcelona, Spain.

The main innovations to be presented by Aerotel at Hall 2, booth 2C12 (Israel National Pavilion), include:

• Wireless homecare hub - Connect-Cell, a highly flexible wireless homecare hub for chronic patient monitoring and disease management.
• Wireless ECG - HeartView Personal hand-held 12-lead ECG monitor with Bluetooth connectivity.
• Mobile-CliniQ - a mobile phone application that enables remote monitoring of various health parameters.
• GeoSkeeper - a personal GPS location and tracking system. traditional social alarm systems.

In addition, Aerotel's Connect-Cell wireless hub powered by the CINTERION MC55i module, showing the measurement of blood pressure by patients with remote web interface consultation, will be demonstrated by Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, at Hall 8 - Stand 8A102.

"The mobile health market is developing very fast, as health care providers worldwide finally recognize that real-time mobile communication is a powerful tool in meeting the challenge of today's ailing healthcare system," said David Rubin, Aerotel Medical Systems President and CEO. "This understanding contributes to the growing interest in Aerotel products that use the existing wireless networks and are both safe and easy to use for both medical teams and for the patients themselves."

Report: Revenues of US digital health sector to surpass $5.7 billion by 2015

Sales of digital health technology solutions and services in the US will exceed $5.7 billion in 2015 compared to only $1.7 billion in 2010, according to a report issued by research company Parks Associates.

The income growth is forecasted to be fueled by chronic-care monitoring solutions, senior aging-in-place services, and connected wellness and fitness apps and programs. Perks said in its Delivering Quality Care to the Digital Home: 2010 Update that the projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the industry for the next five years will be 27%.

The authors noted that mobile broadband will be a key growth driver as many emerging health devices and services rely on high-speed connectivity to track vital signs or enable interactive features.

"The digital health industry has many subsectors, and near-term growth will be uneven across these segments," said Harry Wang, director of Parks Associates' health research team. "Adoption of chronic-care monitoring will grow slowly, and medication management and senior fall-detection programs will expand at above-average rates. The real engines of growth in this industry will be mobile care solutions and tracking applications."

Wang noted that political impasse over the new healthcare law could delay investment in new technologies and create funding challenges for new business models. "To move forward, this industry needs smart entrepreneurs and visionary industry leaders and a regulatory and reimbursement system amenable to innovative, effective, and cost-saving technology advances."

Heart diseases and aging will drive ECG telemetry market to $1.1B by 2015

The global market for ECG telemetry devices will reach some $1.1 billion by 2015, according to a new report on ECG telemetry devices markets issued by research company Global Industry Analysts. 

The authors, which defined Aerotel Medical Systems as one of the major players in this field, noted that while the economic turmoil has negatively impacted the medical equipment industry in 2008-2009 it had a moderate impact on the ECG telemetry market. This is attributed to aging population and growing cases of heart disease or cardiovascular diseases. 

The US represents the largest regional market for ECG telemetry devices worldwide and is expected to further increase as a growing number of Americans receive home care.

Global Industry Analysts said that rising expenditure and scarcity of alternative home care resources and services are further expected to add to growing demand for home telemetry monitoring devices. At the same time, Asia-Pacific represents the fastest growing market as it is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 5% over the next four years. 

"Most of the larger hospitals are moving towards computerization for maintaining Electrocardiogram (ECG) records and investing heavily in data management systems to allow physicians to assess the comparative analysis of patients’ histories," the report stated. "The data management system offers hospitals with increased efficiency, reduces data loss, and provides accurate billing for medical procedures. This method of data assembly offers operational and administrative advantages to healthcare institutions justifying its expense."

mHealth among '100 Things to Watch in 2011'

mHealth, medical and public health supported by mobile devices, is one of the top '100 Things to Watch in 2011', according to marketing communications firm JWT.

In its annual forcast, JWT said that people should look for mobile health applications to help improve health care and change the way patients and their physicians interact. It gave as an example doctors using smartphones to access patients’ medical histories and patients monitoring their own blood pressure and glucose levels.

JWT added that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is currently funding research into mHealth. And with 500 million people forecast to be using mobile health apps by 2015, global opportunities in this market are valued at as much as $60 billion.

“Many of the items on our list reflect broader shifts we’ve been tracking over the past few years, such as the evolution of the mobile phone into an ‘everything hub,’” said Ann Mack, director of trendspotting at JWT. “Others reflect counter-trends—for instance, to balance out our growing immersion in the digital world, people will increasingly embrace face-to-face gatherings and digital downtime.”