Using mHealth to manage diabetes of inner-city residents

Donna Cusano

Two new programs test the premise that smartphones with web access, coupled with reduced monthly rates as long as the patients are in the program, will be effective in helping urban, low-income people better manage their diabetes.  In Washington, D.C., George Washington and Howard Universities are using NoMoreClipboard to create a trackable record that’s readable by the patient, then feeds into a PHR.  In nearby Baltimore, the University of Maryland Medical School is testing a mobile system from Welldoc.  Will it be effective now–and after the incentives are over?  Previous and ongoing text programs–sunscreen reminders from Center for Connected Health [TA 4 Dec 2009], Mount Sinai (NY) medication reminders to pediatric liver transplant patients, UC San Diego for eating reminders related to weight loss–results have been mixed.  AP story.  FierceMobileHealthcare summary.