Microsoft and TracFone mHealth venture promotes diabetes management for underserved

Microsoft and TracFone Wireless are collaborating on bringing mHealth technology to underserved and high-risk populations, with an eye toward helping patients with diabetes better manage their conditions.

The two companies are joining forces to work with Miami-based Health Choice Network (HCN)--which manages and connects a network of community health centers with more than 760,000 patients in 17 states—to conduct a pilot project where HCN will provide smartphones to diabetes patients to help them better manage their care.

The pilot’s goal is “to demonstrate how access to mobile technology can help improve patient compliance, education and ultimately disease-related outcomes,” according to Microsoft.

The new mobile health management solution, offered through providers and insurers, will allow secure email and messaging communications to patients regarding their health and regimens—as well as provide appointment reminders with calendar functionality and remote device management that is standard with a Windows Phone.

In addition, it will feature Microsoft’s services and solutions, such as Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft HealthVault, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and a variety of smartphone applications.

“Putting existing technologies to use for today’s patients will help improve healthcare, coordination and outcomes, as well as better manage costs,” said Lee Stevens, director of Health Information Exchange Policy and Interoperability at the Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement. “Combining the power of a smartphone with a personal health record platform that brings disparate data together in a secure environment is an important step toward the goal of providing better patient engagement and more mobile healthcare in the U.S.”