Mobile devices are playing an increasingly large role in the world of healthcare, as doctors, nurses and other clinical personnel take advantage of recent innovations. In fact, according to data provided by GreatCall, 80 percent of physicians use smartphones and medical applications and 93 percent of physicians believe that mobile health applications can improve patient’s health.
One recently announced telehealth effort will provide tablets to diabetes patients, delivering "top-notch medical care to patients in one of Mississippi’s most medically underserved areas, providing a new lifeline for health and disease management,” according to Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant.
The benefits are clear: Mobile devices can quickly deliver medical records and other information directly into the hands of healthcare team members. Tasks can be synced and streamlined, so healthcare professionals can focus more on patient care than on administrative duties.
Market growth means new opportunities
One area of rapid growth in the mobility healthcare market is remote patient monitoring, a technology that enables nurses, physicians and other caregivers to collect data and monitor vital signs remotely. Remote monitoring devices run the gamut from blood glucose meters to wireless cardiovascular monitoring devices. Part of what makes this technology so effective is the ability to tailor the monitoring regimen to meet the needs of each patient.
The demand for more integrated, portable devices presents OEMs with huge opportunities. One key ingredient for success in this fast-moving industry is the ability to bring products to market quickly. To help accelerate product development, many OEMs are moving away from custom hardware in favor of standard, off-the-shelf solutions. This allows them to fully focus on value-add areas, such as developing the device’s user-facing software. The easier a device is to use, the more it will be applied in the field.
Developing the right approach
Dell OEM Solutionsworks with equipment manufacturers across a range of specialized industries, helping them develop go-to-market strategies and weigh important considerations. As part of that process, we help manufacturers ask and answer key questions:
- How will you handle the growth of your mobile solution as customer demand picks up?
- How do you go from selling locally to selling in Asia, Europe and South America?
- How do you build an adaptable solution that can deploy to different endpoint platforms in multiple locations and multiple environments?
- How do you protect your customer data from cyberthreats or breaches?
- How do you ensure both data protection and privacy without limiting access?
- How do you remotely disable devices that are stolen?
Given the long development and sales cycle typical of this market, product development strategies should focus on improving time to market. OEMs should consider a full range of variables in this equation, including the selection of partners and a product development model, resource availability, and the experience and support capabilities of hardware suppliers and other vendors.
