News

Smartphones, telephones such as the iPhone or Blackberry that can run programs and connect to the Internet in addition to their more mundane uses, are increasingly being used as venues for healthcare information technology.

Joining an ever-growing number of health plans looking to help their members access health information wherever they may roam, Highland has announced the launch of its Highmark HealthHand iPhone application. The app provides members with a host of features, including the ability to find the closest Highmark participating providers including hospitals, urgent care facilities, retail clinics and pharmacies.

Three in ten Americans reported they would use their cell or smart phone to track and monitor their personal health, and 40 percent would be willing to pay for a remote monitoring device that sends health information directly to their doctor, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute.The findings of the survey and new report entitled Healthcare Unwired were presented Wednesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers at the mHealth Initiative's 2nd International mHealth Conference held in San Diego.