Scripps to examine mobile technologies’ impact on healthcare spending

A clinical study launched by Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) will investigate whether the integration of wireless technologies, online social networks and medicine can directly impact healthcare spending.

In the study, half of the 200 participants will receive a mobile health device relevant to their condition—either a Withings Blood Pressure Monitor, an AliveCor Heart Monitor or an iBGStar Blood Glucose Meter—for a period of six months, according to an announcement of the study. Qualcomm Life’s 2net Hub and Platform, a cloud-based platform that collects and transmits information from remote medical sensors, will receive data from these devices.

Scripps is recruiting participants from among Scripps Health’s employees and beneficiaries through HealthComp, a third-party administrator of healthcare services. The wireless invention group will have access to a web portal, or mobile device experience, powered by Qualcomm Life’s HealthyCircles Care Orchestration, to engage in health sessions and track their conditions.

HealthComp will monitor the health status of participants and deliver any relevant interventions. Both control and intervention groups will be enrolled in HealthComp’s disease management program, which includes one-on-one nurse education and training on their chronic condition.

STSI researchers will then evaluate the frequency, purpose and cost of health interventions, such as medical screenings and emergency room visits received by the participants during the study period.

“The data will enable us to assess whether patients who actively track their health conditions through mobile devices and interact with their healthcare team through a web portal will have more success managing their health conditions and, as a result, spend fewer healthcare dollars,” said Cinnamon Bloss, PhD, director of social sciences and bioethics at STSI.

Funding for the study is being provided by Scripps Health and through in-kind device and service donations from Qualcomm Life, HealthComp, Accenture, Withings, AliveCor and Sanofi Diabetes.

“We are excited to embark on one of the first robust, cross-industry studies using multiple mobile medical sensors to determine whether we can lower healthcare costs and resource consumption through wireless health technology,” Eric Topol, MD, director of the STSI and chief academic officer of Scripps Health, said in a statement.