According to a 2010 study by Access Economics, Telehealth is a subset of e-health that includes the application of IT and telecommunications for diagnostic and treatment services, educational and support services and the organisation and management of health services.

Looking at this wide definition, it is interesting to examine the consumerisation of telehealth, and the role being played within the mobile applications space for every-day users. According to MobiHealthNews latest report, there are more than 10,000 “medical” apps available for iPhones, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Palm, etc. Whilst the largest group of consumer health apps are cardio fitness apps, there are also thousands more apps that fit into the “health & fitness” category that are not actually health, medical or fitness related. Despite this, the quantity of health apps for consumers is growing at a steady rate.

Popular health apps are used for counting calories, gauging nutrition, tracking workouts, calculating body mass index and quitting smoking. Our humble smartphone device offers a relatively low-cost and real-time method to assess disease, movement, images, behaviour, social interactions, and a host of other health related information. Much like the consumerisation of smartphones into businesses, there is also a gradual consumerisation of telehealth via smartphones.

There is significant further potential in using smartphones to improve the health and wellbeing of clients. Remote monitoring, at home triage services, teleconsultations, medication management, outpatient services – could all contribute to improving health related outcomes.

Unfortunately there are still many obstacles in the way that is preventing higher penetration and enhanced mobile application services to clients. Cost, usability, security, privacy all play a role, however the role of mobile apps in healthcare isn’t set to disappear any time soon, so it may pay to embrace this technology and plan it’s place in your strategy, rather than hoping for a fast exit.