The homeless people do not always have access to primary healthcare and often have to encounter unmet health requirements. However, a study reveals that by reaching out to these people through mobile health greatly increases communication within the population and at the same time increases preventive care with the ultimate result of improved health.
The study found that 71% of patients were homeless and owned cell phones while 86 % were patients living in stable housing. It was not surprising to find patients using cell phones but what is really worth noting is that no significant difference in the use of new media was there, and it was health information on alcohol, mental health, pregnancy, domestic violence and quitting smoking that homeless patients were looking for.
Doctors now find mobile use as a means to stop people from unnecessary visits to ED but it can be used to treat these people and also follow up with them on a regular basis. It means mobile phones are equally used by both the homeless people and those having stable living conditions. Hence reaching out to these homeless people will become a lot more easier using mobile phones who otherwise may remain unreachable or locating them becomes difficult.
It is not sure if the patients at home care for homeless in Toronto would welcome the new health tool as a boon.
A number of mobile health care programs are available that are aimed to improve the healthcare access for the homeless patients.
One of these programs is smoking cessation intervention. There are many poor people who in spite of knowing the harmful effects of smoking are unable to quit the habit as they don't have the resources required.
There are quitting support line that can be called by patients during their craving for cigarette. But people who are homeless say they find it unaffordable to use the support line as they use pre-paid phone plans.
The study recommends buying minutes for people so that these people talk for an hour a week on the quit line. This will result in greater prevention of diseases.
A similar program was used a couple of years back that were meant for patients with a suicidal tendency. The patients were provided with a cell phone while an automated text message was sent to ask them about their feelings. If the response indicated some kind of problem, an alert message was sent out to a professional. There are plans to start more such text message system with other programs.
The introduction of technological interventions has a cost factor associated with it and homeless patients will find it difficult to cover the cost of mobile health programs. The study recommends helping out patients financially as is done for heart attack treatment or cancer treatment. In addition, no-cost cell phone services are an excellent option to go for.
One big barrier in the implementation of mobile health program is getting physicians involved in the service.
To overcome this, college students or professionals who charge less could be made use of to get into program monitoring.
Another point of concern is to reach out to the elderly as well as disabled people through cell phones. However, with more adaptability of mobile phones, these devices will turn out to be more useful to the homeless.
In spite of different challenges, mobile health remains an excellent means to address the needs of the people living at personal care boarding home in Toronto. There are every chances of improved health care along with cost if the program is followed well.
The study found that 71% of patients were homeless and owned cell phones while 86 % were patients living in stable housing. It was not surprising to find patients using cell phones but what is really worth noting is that no significant difference in the use of new media was there, and it was health information on alcohol, mental health, pregnancy, domestic violence and quitting smoking that homeless patients were looking for.
Doctors now find mobile use as a means to stop people from unnecessary visits to ED but it can be used to treat these people and also follow up with them on a regular basis. It means mobile phones are equally used by both the homeless people and those having stable living conditions. Hence reaching out to these homeless people will become a lot more easier using mobile phones who otherwise may remain unreachable or locating them becomes difficult.
It is not sure if the patients at home care for homeless in Toronto would welcome the new health tool as a boon.
Mobile Health Programs for Homeless Individuals
A number of mobile health care programs are available that are aimed to improve the healthcare access for the homeless patients.
One of these programs is smoking cessation intervention. There are many poor people who in spite of knowing the harmful effects of smoking are unable to quit the habit as they don't have the resources required.
There are quitting support line that can be called by patients during their craving for cigarette. But people who are homeless say they find it unaffordable to use the support line as they use pre-paid phone plans.
The study recommends buying minutes for people so that these people talk for an hour a week on the quit line. This will result in greater prevention of diseases.
A similar program was used a couple of years back that were meant for patients with a suicidal tendency. The patients were provided with a cell phone while an automated text message was sent to ask them about their feelings. If the response indicated some kind of problem, an alert message was sent out to a professional. There are plans to start more such text message system with other programs.
The Cost Argument
The introduction of technological interventions has a cost factor associated with it and homeless patients will find it difficult to cover the cost of mobile health programs. The study recommends helping out patients financially as is done for heart attack treatment or cancer treatment. In addition, no-cost cell phone services are an excellent option to go for.
Barriers Remain
One big barrier in the implementation of mobile health program is getting physicians involved in the service.
To overcome this, college students or professionals who charge less could be made use of to get into program monitoring.
Another point of concern is to reach out to the elderly as well as disabled people through cell phones. However, with more adaptability of mobile phones, these devices will turn out to be more useful to the homeless.
In spite of different challenges, mobile health remains an excellent means to address the needs of the people living at personal care boarding home in Toronto. There are every chances of improved health care along with cost if the program is followed well.
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