With a lot of ambiguity surrounding how SMS can be properly implemented in healthcare messaging, the folks at mHIMSS have produced an excellent quick-reference guide that covers five frequently asked questions regarding the use of SMS in healthcare.

Covering everything from the technology needed to deploy SMS, to the many regulatory standards associated with SMS and the use of Short Codes, and even including “Personal Health Information (PHI)” within text messages, the doc provides an excellent reference point to those seeking more information on SMS in healthcare.

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It was announced today that Highmark – a Pittsburgh-based independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association — has partnered with mobileStorm to power a new mobile messaging initiative to reach members, employees, group customers and the community at large on their mobile devices.

Highmark is currently implementing mobile campaigns to influence healthy behaviors for members as well as its own employee base, while also evaluating opportunities to use additional SMS initiatives to reach group customers and the general community.  Highmark is leveraging mobileStorm for Healthcare, the company’s multi-channel healthcare messaging system that enables both healthcare payers and providers to launch powerful one-to-many campaigns with a virtually limitless number of members.

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Highmark, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association based in Pittsburgh, announced recently that it’s launched new mobile websites for its members along with new motivational health and wellness SMS programs.

Its new mobile-optimized websites allow members to access Highmark’s provider directory, claims history and provides quick access to the most used functions of Highmark’s full websites.  Highmark’s health and wellness SMS program, called “Encouraging Words of Wisdom,” recently began for individuals enrolled in Highmark’s Personal Nutrition Coaching program, where individuals meet with a registered dietitian for up to seven sessions in a calendar year and can supplement their coaching by signing up for SMS alerts to receive motivational text messages every other day to stay on track with their wellness goal.

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New estimates out from Juniper Research suggest the number of people using mobile networks for remote health monitoring services will top 3M by 2016.

Though nearly all health conditions can benefit from round-the-clock mobile monitoring, the report found that the field is being led by cardiac outpatient monitoring, as insurance reimbursement in the US market plays a key role.  However, the management of diabetes and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder), in addition to other chronic diseases will play an important role in the remote patient monitoring market over the next several years.

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CellepathicRx, a provider of “HIPAA-compliant, client-branded mHealth solutions,” has announced the addition of hypertargeted retail couponing to its solutions aimed at pharmacies.

The company focuses primarily on mobile messaging solutions aimed at medication adherence, appointment reminders, patient self-reporting and so on — solutions aimed at allowing consumers to have better control over their health and wellness while saving costs for healthcare organizations.  The company leverages a variety of communication channels such as SMS, email, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), QR codes, the mobile Web and mobile apps to deliver relevant messaging to consumers.

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The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) recently issued a so-called “ban” on physician texting, saying it’s “not acceptable” for medical professionals to communicate patient information via SMS.

In dealing with sensitive medical information, physicians risk violating HIPAA regulations and other security standards by communicating with patients over SMS.  Such violations can be costly and can lead to other repercussions for both the physician and the healthcare organization(s) they represent.  The JCAHO recognized this risk and used it as the basis for its ban on physician texting.  While many in the industry are seeing this as a warning sign to stop mobile communication altogether, it’s actually a step in the right direction to push physicians and healthcare organizations to begin leveraging new-age, fully secure forms of mobile communication.

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Those old cellphones you’re too embarrassed to carry around might have a second life. Medi Mobile, a nonprofit started by 24 year old Josh Nesbit, is aiming to collect those phones and use them to help improve medical outcomes for people living in third world countries. In these areas where access to technology has been consistently limited, cell phone saturation is thriving.

The program started with a simple idea. While working in rural Malawi, Nesbit saw workers traveling dozens of miles to deliver patient information to hospitals. Based on the readily available cell phone signal, which now covers 90% of the world’s population, he saw a better way. With a backpack full of old cell phones, a laptop and a $5,000 dollar grant, Nesbit began working with local medical professional to coordinate patient care.

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