Newswise — Several growing challenges facing the nation’s health care system could keep millions from getting the care they need in the coming decades. The Association of American Medical Colleges recently estimated that the national shortage of primary care physicians could reach 159,000 by 2025. Moreover, most of the $1 billion spent annually on care management programs in the U.S. supports treatment for costly, serious conditions that are largely preventable with the right care.
Cutting-edge innovations in mobile health technology have the potential to help overcome these gaps in care, enabling patients to take a more active role in their health care and connecting physicians to vital, real-time information that supports improved treatment and preventive care. The University of Texas Medical Branch estimates that widespread implementation of telemedicine, for example, could save the U.S. health system more than $4 billion annually, and improve health outcomes for millions.
“It is critical that patients have consistent access to quality care providers, and that care providers have access to the patients’ full portfolio of medical data,” Richard Migliori, M.D., executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group says. “American health care consumption is driven by day-to-day decisions made by patients and their physicians in exam rooms across America.
“Consistent, widespread use of new advances in telehealth capabilities and data analytics will play an increasingly important role in building sustainable reform in the current health system,” he adds.
Dr. Migliori will be a panelist in this year’s prestigious mHealth Summit, where he will discuss the future of mobile health as part of the “Super Session Panel: The CEO Perspective,” which will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, from 4:45 p.m-6:00 p.m.
For those covering health technology and the health care industry, Dr. Migliori is available for interviews before his panel discussion begins and following the conference. He can talk about how mobile technology in health is being applied now to match consumers’ diverse needs, increase access to health care, improve care outcomes, and manage costs in today’s changing health care system. Among the questions he can address are:
• How is mobile health technology being used in the health care system today? What is the measurable impact of health technology so far?• Does mobile health technology have the power to influence patient behavior in a positive way? • What are the barriers to implementing mobile health technology more widely across the industry?• Innovations in mobile health technology at UnitedHealth Group, such as eSync and Now Clinic.• Other promising examples of mobile health services in the market today, including how the technology has been developed and deployed in the U.S.
The annual mHealth summit convenes some of the world’s leading minds in health and technology from business, government, philanthropy and academia, to discuss the delivery of health care services through mobile technologies to underserved communities. Keynote speakers at this year’s mHealth summit include: Bill Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Ted Turner, Chairman of the UN Foundation; Aneesh Chopra, U.S. Chief Technology Officer of the White House, OSTP; Dr. Francis A. Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health; and Dr. Julio Frenk, Dean of Faculty of Harvard School of Public Health. The summit is organized by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health in partnership with the mHealth Alliance and the National Institutes of Health.
About Dr. MiglioriRichard Migliori, M.D., executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group, is responsible for ensuring clinical excellence and linking that excellence to practical clinical outcomes and robust business results. Dr. Migliori also serves as chief healthcare officer of UnitedHealth Group Alliances, a division of Ovations, and is responsible for the Health Care Transformation on behalf of AARP.
About UnitedHealth GroupUnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through six operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, UnitedHealthcare Community & State, OptumHealth, Ingenix and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 75 million individuals worldwide. Visit www.unitedhealthgroup.com for more information.
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