Mobile health (mHealth) and telehealth adoption accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and usage has remained far above pre-2020 levels. This article compiles market and provider adoption signals, including growth projections for mobile health technologies, hospital priorities for Clinical Communications & Collaboration (CCC), and patient preference data for digital scheduling and messaging. It also outlines practical ways healthcare teams apply communications workflows, such as appointment reminders, test results, internal coordination, and virtual visits, and connects those needs to SignalWire capabilities and compliance considerations.
Mobile health (mHealth) and telehealth have rapidly expanded in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated their growth. These technologies offer a convenient and accessible way for patients to receive medical care remotely, often without the need for in-person visits to the doctor's office or hospital.
Investing in mobile health technology is crucial for healthcare providers to deliver high-quality care, improve patient satisfaction, and increase healthcare efficiency. By leveraging the latest mHealth technologies, healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare disparities, and enhance the overall quality of care.
Industry trends
With the increased demand for remote healthcare services, the mHealth market is expected to reach new heights in the coming years.
In terms of overall market, the Global Mobile Health Technologies Market was estimated to be valued at $55.4 Billion in 2021. The growth rate of this market is 32.2%, with an estimated value of $224 Billion by 2026. These projections make it clear: now is the time for healthcare providers to invest in mHealth technologies. This investment will help providers to collaborate as well as provide better care for their patients.
As of 2021, a study by Spyglass Consulting found 73% of hospitals reported that Clinical Communications & Collaboration (CCC) investments are a high investment priority. Additionally, 49% of hospitals had developed, and 42% were developing, enterprise-wide mobile communications strategies.
While COVID-19 certainly accelerated the timeline on adopting these strategies, they continue to be a priority. Growth in telehealth usage peaked in April 2020, but has since stabilized at 38 times pre-pandemic levels. McKinsey offers additional analysis on that trend.
Addressing patient needs
Whether it’s being used to facilitate patient communication, distribute test results, schedule and confirm appointments, or even connect internal teams, the research supports mHealth as a force multiplier that is desired by the majority of patients.
When integrated in the care plan for surgical patients and members of their support networks, digital mobile technology facilitates HIPAA-sensitive perioperative messaging, improves physician-patient communication, and streamlines patient care. Most patients reported “an improved hospital experience,” and 96% of responding family members and friends “felt more connected to their loved ones during surgery”.
In a 2022 study by Experian and PYMNTS, it was found that one out of five patients had scheduled appointments via digital channels in the last 12 months. In an earlier study by Experian in 2021, 78% of patients reported that they wanted the convenience of 24/7 self-scheduling, but only 40% percent of providers offered that option. In that same study, 54% of providers said facilitating contactless care is one of their top three challenges.
Building mHealth apps with SignalWire
The SignalWire platform is designed to be HIPAA compliant and satisfy all Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and data privacy regulations, as well as being able to meet data residency requirements and offering BAAs.
Use SignalWire for appointment scheduling, automated appointment reminders, and virtual appointments via video conferencing. In addition, SignalWire can be used for fax, other SMS communications such as notifications, IVR, and more.
Whether it’s navigating the intricacies of The Campaign Registry (TCR) for your SMS traffic, setting up your first video room, or scaling from your first hundred messages to half a million a month, our experts have you covered. Review our healthcare offerings for more information.
For an example of mHealth being utilized to improve patient outcomes, check out our case study of how Phoenix Children’s adopted texting as a more effective way to reach patients and employees rather than having them log in to an application or a patient portal.
With the growing demand for telehealth services, healthcare providers have started investing heavily in mHealth technologies to improve the patient experience and reduce healthcare costs. Closing the gap between patient expectations and the offerings available is a top priority, while ensuring data security and privacy is maintained. HIPAA compliant communication apps and telehealth software are two big options helping to bridge this gap.
If you’re using SignalWire to build out telehealth solutions, bring your questions to our Community Discord.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mobile health (mHealth)?
Mobile health (mHealth) refers to healthcare services and workflows delivered through mobile devices and digital communication channels, often supporting remote care, patient messaging, scheduling, and care-team coordination.
What do hospitals prioritize when investing in mobile clinical communication?
A Spyglass Consulting study found 73% of hospitals reported Clinical Communications & Collaboration (CCC) investments as a high priority, and many reported building enterprise-wide mobile communications strategies.
What do patients want from digital healthcare communication?
Patient preference data referenced on the page indicates strong demand for digital scheduling, including 24/7 self-scheduling, along with broader expectations for convenient digital communication during care.
