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Mobile Health Care: A Great Idea In Search Of A Revenue Stream

From MedCity News:  Cleveland, OH's Access Mobility has developed a mobile patient adherence system it calls CellepathicRx. The app sends medication reminders and wellness tips to patients, as well as coupons and advertisements.

From Bay News 9 in Tampa Bay, FL: Health care goes mobile, but who pays?
"...the market for telemedicine hardware has grown to an estimated $125 million, according to research firm InMedica. The sector encompasses everything from self-dispensing pill boxes - designed to prevent medication errors - to smart phone applications that help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels.

"The tricky part is finding a way to pay for telemedicine which doesn't fit into the traditional U.S. health care model centered around visits to the hospital and the doctor's office.
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"But you need not wait until hospitals reinvent the health care business to benefit from telemedicine.  There are already roughly 17,000 health-related applications for the iPhone, Android and other smart phones. Many cost as little as a dollar and are available without a prescription."
Planning to wait for hospitals to reinvent health care? Better settle in with some sandwiches and a Thermos of coffee.  LOTS of sandwiches.

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