Mobile health technologies and medical records

Sean Wong,Wendy Wang

doi:10.5206/uwomj.v88i1.6188

Abstract

Migrants and refugees often face healthcare difficulties that may be difficult to address in low-resource healthcare settings. They often present with multifaceted and complex health problems that pose unique challenges for both primary care providers and public health officials. Mobile health technologies (mHealth), which involves the use of mobile technology in order to support medical and public health practices, is currently being explored as a means of addressing some of these challenges. The rapid expansion of mobile technology and increasing ubiquity of devices such as mobile phones even in low-resource settings has made mHealth an attractive option for the provision and support of healthcare. mHealth has been implemented in novel ways to enhance patient education, support immunization, and monitor infectious disease in vulnerable populations. Despite its benefits, there remain limitations to the use of mHealth in low-resource healthcare settings, including concerns regarding personal health information security, user adherence, and validated implementation, amongst others. This article will explore the use of mHealth to support medical care in low-resource healthcare settings.

Highlights

Migrants and refugees often face healthcare difficulties that may be difficult to address in low-resource healthcare settings
As the ninth-largest recipient of asylum seekers worldwide, has taken in 40,081 refugees from Syria alone.[2]. These displaced individuals face unique challenges arising from culture shock, poverty, marginalization, and discrimination which hinder their access to healthcare and lead to long-term ramifications on individual health
Refugees may suffer from mental health problems such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical ailments related to overcrowding and communicable diseases.[3]

Summary

Introduction

Mobile health technologies (mHealth) have been suggested as a potential solution to insufficient healthcare in low-resource settings for refugee and migrant populations. While some of the first EMRs were developed as early as the 1960s, improvements in processing and computing hardware have led to their widespread dissemination in healthcare systems around the world.[6] The rapid expansion of technology in the mobile phone sector paired with the highly accessible nature of mobile phones in the modern era have made mHealth technologies an attractive solution to healthcare problems faced by refugees in low-resource settings.

Results

Conclusion