Andrew R. Watson, MD, MLitt, FACS, medical director for the Center for Connected Medicine, a global thought leader defining the transformation of health care, will moderate a breakfast panel opening this year’s mHealth Summit Dec. 3-5 in Washington, D.C. The session, sponsored by Healthcare IT News and mHIMSS.org, will consider physician reluctance to embrace mHealth, as well as explore both short- and long-term challenges and solutions.

Physician hesitation to adopt mobile technology runs contrary to consumers’ desire to conduct more and more of their lives via smartphone, tablet or similar device. Concerned about losing the “personal connection” with patients, many providers have been slow to implement emerging solutions. Ironically, this unwillingness may actually alienate tech-savvy individuals who prefer caregivers that can communicate in ways they consider convenient and comfortable.

The session, scheduled for 7:30-8:45 a.m. Monday, Dec. 3, preceding the summit's opening keynote, is titled “mPowering the Physician in the Era of Patient-Directed Healthcare.” Panelists include:

• Marc Probst, chief information officer and vice president at Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare, as well as a member of the Federal Health Information Technology Policy Committee; and
• Orlando Portale, chief innovation officer at San Diego-based Palomar Health, the largest healthcare district in California, and a leader in developing mHealth tools and services for both physicians and patients.

Panelists will address issues such as how to engage physicians in the mHealth conversation and how to best introduce mHealth technology into a practice. In addition, they will present best practices in mHealth technology that are producing reliable clinical outcomes for physicians. Other issues to be discussed include privacy and security concerns; patient accountability; reimbursement platforms; protocols for using approved devices; and the regulation and management of mobile apps.

“The mHealth Summit is a great forum for discussing current perspectives and best practices for mHealth adoption,” says Dr. Watson. “I look forward to the opportunity to participate in this session, intended to shine a spotlight on the great value mHealth technology can provide. Candid discussion will help reassure physicians that, however daunting the transition may be, embracing mobility will benefit them and their patients.”

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CONNECTED MEDICINE

The Center for Connected Medicine is defining the transformation of health care by serving as a global thought leader. It is the world’s first collaborative health care executive briefing center dedicated to developing the blueprint for innovative patient-centered health through understanding new models of care and leveraging strategically integrated health information technology. Based in Pittsburgh, the Center opened its doors in September 2009 and is comprised of four founding partners: Alcatel-Lucent, IBM, UPMC and Verizon and eight strategic partners representing global leaders in health care. The Center draws executives and clinicians from around the world to explore the transformation of heath care. Visitors experience the possibilities of an interconnected health care system firsthand, with real clinical examples, and leave the Center with new insights and methods for reinventing their organizations, streamlining their processes and embracing the new paradigm in health care. To learn more about connected medicine, as well as the Center’s vision and initiatives, please visit www.connectedmed.com.