Role of Mobile Phone Applications in Transforming - Assignment Example

16 December The Role of Mobile Phone Applications in Transforming Healthcare Environment I. Hypothesis: The deployment of Mobile Applications will be useful in correctly measuring people’s vital health statistics as well as aligning the coordination of healthcare related activities. This will be instrumental in positively transforming their healthcare environment, as can be evidenced from the reduced rates of blood pressure cases in Florida from 2010 to 2013. In the modern day, with the advent of sophisticated mobile phone technologies such as Apple and Android, a wide range of medical applications have become easily available that can enable patients to “access information and advice” from any location at any time (Patient Apps for Improved Healthcare 4). These applications can be instrumental transforming the healthcare environment by facilitating various capabilities for the diagnosis of diseases as well as helping people to monitor their health and vital statistics apart from affording them an easy platform for coordinating all their healthcare related activities. The areas where mobile applications can be used in the healthcare field include, but are not limited to, diagnosis of diseases, drug reference, medical calculator, searching medical literature, clinical communication, Hospital Information System for patients, “general healthcare applications,” learning tool for medical and nursing students, various utilities for patients etc (Mosa et al 8). Mobile apps are especially useful in the case of diseases like blood pressure as they offer the leverage to “control the inflation and deflation of a blood pressure cuff through a mobile platform” (Mobile Medical Applications 14). Evidence further suggests that personalizing the health monitoring system will “significantly improve” the possibility of early detection of cardio vascular diseases (CVDs), including blood pressure (Mena et al 4). Besides, ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring will also facilitate “accurate diagnosis” as well as easy evaluation of response to treatment (4). Mobile applications provide an appropriate platform for ABP and by using them in transportable devices such as mobile phones and PDAs etc people can effectively monitor the onslaught as well as response to the treatment of hyper tension. II. Methodology: In order to test the above hypothesis, the researcher has focused on conducting a study on people from Florida State especially those from the cities such as Miami and Orlando. Since the treatment of blood pressure is to be undertaken over a long period, the study spanned over a term of three years from 2010 to 2013 to observe sample population. The sample population consisted of about 40 Florida residents who regularly use mobile applications for monitoring their health. To facilitate a comparative analysis, the study has also included 20 Florida residents who did not use mobile applications for monitoring their health. Half of the sample population has been people who have blood pressure and were under treatment and the other half included people who did not have the disease but regularly monitor their health statistics, especially for detecting hypertension. This exercise has been intended to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile apps in monitoring both the response to treatment as well as detecting the disease. The sample population was requested to monitor their blood pressure on a daily basis and record the same. The nonusers of mobile devices and applications were provided with a set of blood pressure equipment including manometer, inflatable rubber bladders, stethoscope etc. Their relatives were also given proper orientation on measuring the BP, pulse etc and recording the result for monitoring purpose. The administrative assistant was deputed to collect relevant data from the participants on a weekly basis on rotation, covering 10 participants per day from Monday to Saturday. The data collected included the rate of pulse and blood pressure on a daily basis, weekly weight and physical activities like exercise, games etc that they have engaged in. Besides, the details of medication being used by those who were under treatment had also been obtained. All the information relating to the participants will be kept confidential and only the staff related with the studies will be given access to their personal information. The participants will also be given a written undertaking that their identities will be protected and that any information they provide will not be used for any purpose other than meeting the objectives of the research and also that it will not be shared with any third parties. There is no risk involved for the human subjects that will participate in the study. On the other hand, the monitoring being done as part of the research will benefit them considerably. The research protocol will be submitted for review to the institution board/committee for approval and suggestions for modifications if any. III. Timeline of the Project: YEAR-I: 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 Date Activity Person Responsible 01 April 2010 Commencement of the project All staff 01 – 30 April Established office and completed enlisting sample population through telephone/personal contact Principal Investigator/ Admin Assistant 01 – 31 May Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 30 June Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 31 July Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 31 August Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 30 September Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 31 October Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 30 November Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 31 December Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 31 January Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 28 February Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 31 March Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator YEAR-II: 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 Date Activity Person Responsible 01 April to 30 June 2011 Preparation of yearly statistics Verification/review of last year statistics Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Computer Operator Principal Investigator Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 July to 30 September 2011 Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 October to 31 December 2011 Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 January 2012 to 31 March 2012 Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator YEAR-II: 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 Date Activity Person Responsible 01 April to 30 June 2012 Preparation of yearly statistics Verification/review of last year statistics Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Computer Operator Principal Investigator Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 July to 30 September 2012 Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 October to 31 December 2012 Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 January 2012 to 31 March 2013 Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator 01 – 30 April 2013 Preparation of yearly statistics Verification/review of last year statistics Data collection for the month completed Data entry in to main computer Verification/review of data/offering guidance Preparation of quarterly statistics Quarterly review of data/drawing findings Consolidation of data Preparation of Draft Findings Preparation of Draft Report Preparation of Final Report Submission of Report Computer Operator Principal Investigator Admin Assistant Computer Operator Principal Investigator Computer Operator Principal Investigator PI/CO PI/AA PI/AA PI/AA PI Note: In addition to the above tasks, the Administrative Assistant and Computer Operator have also assisted in the preparation of reports relating to accounts and financial matters, under the guidance/supervision of Principal Investigator, who submitted the final reports to all authorities concerned. IV. Budget: The project has engaged a Principal Investigator Dr Jane Doe, MD and two staff to assist her, comprising a computer operator and an administrative assistant. While the former was on part time basis, both the others have been employed on full time arrangement. Remuneration of these human resources has been met from the budget allocated through the grant for research as per the details given below: Personnel Material and Miscellaneous Designation Amount Nomenclature Amount Principal Investigator 40,000 Computers 3 3,000 Computer Operator 24,000 Laptop 1 2,000 Administrative Assistant 22,000 Laser Printer/Scanner/Copier 1,000 Sub Total 86,000 Stationery 1,000 Fringe Benefits Telephone 1,000 Internet 500 Principal Investigator 8,000 Electricity 2,000 Computer Operator 4,800 BP Equipment (20 + 5) 2,000 Administrative Assistant 4,400 Stethoscope (20 + 5) 2,000 Sub Total 17,200 Travelling Expenditure 2,500 Grand Total 103,200 Grand Total 17,000 Budget for Three Years: The budget for the three years has been prepared on the basis of the assumption that the staff has agreed to work on the same remuneration throughout the project timeframe and that the cost and consumption of material and services remained the same. BUDGET 2010 - 2013 Year Personnel Other than Personnel Total 2010-2-11 103,200 17,000 120,200 2011-2012 103,200 17,000 120,200 2012-2013 103,200 17,000 120,200 3 Years 309,600 51,000 360,600 Justification for Materials: 3 Computers – To be used by the three available staff 1 Laptop – For the use of the Principal Investigator as being a part time incumbent she will have to use the laptop when she is not present in the project location and will have to work from home or other locations. Laser Printer-cum-Scanner-cum-Copier: For taking print out of various data, undertaking and any other materials for the purpose of the research. Stationery: For use in connection with various activities of the research project. Internet: For accessing information relating to the research and interacting with the sample population through e-mail, chat etc, where necessary. Telephone: For contacting sample population and other stakeholders related to the research. Electricity: For running various appliances in the office, including air conditioners. BP Apparatus and Stethoscope: For distribution to the sample population that do not use cell phone applications. Travelling Expenditure: For contacting the sample population and executing other tasks relating to the study. Works Cited Mena et al. “Mobile Personal Health System for Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring.” Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine, 2013: 1-13. Web. 16 Dec 2013. “Mobile Medical Applications: Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff.” US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013. Web. 16 Dec 2013. Mosa, Abu Saleh Mohammad, Yoo, Illhoi & Sheets, Lincoln. “A Systematic Review of Healthcare Applications for Smart Phones.” BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 12.67 (2012): 1-31. Print. Patients Apps for Improved Healthcare: From Novelty to Mainstream. IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, 2013. Web. 16 Dec 2013. Read More