title: mCare: using secure mobile technology to support soldier reintegration and rehabilitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The U.S. Army Medical Department conducted a pilot mobile health project to determine the requirements for coordination of care for "Wounded Warriors" using mobile messaging. The primary objective was to determine if a secure mobile health (mhealth) intervention provided to geographically dispersed patients would improve contact rates and positively impact the military healthcare system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over 21 months, volunteers enrolled in a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant, secure mobile messaging initiative called mCare. The study included males and females, 18-61 years old, with a minimum of 60 days of outpatient recovery. Volunteers were required to have a compatible phone. The mhealth intervention included appointment reminders, health and wellness tips, announcements, and other relevant information to this population exchanged between care teams and patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Provider respondents reported that 85% would refer patients to mCare, and 56% noted improvement in appointment attendance (n=90). Patient responses also revealed high acceptability of mCare and refined the frequency and delivery times (n=114). The pilot project resulted in over 84,000 outbound messages and improved contact rates by 176%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mCare pilot project demonstrated the feasibility and administrative effectiveness of a scalable mhealth application using secure mobile messaging and information exchanges, including personalized patient education.
authors.affiliation: 1 Center for Military Medicine Research, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Ronald K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Poropatich
authors.forename: Holly H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Pavliscsak
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Jeanette R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Francis L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: McVeigh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003219:Confidentiality; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063731:Mobile Applications; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000295:instrumentation; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: health; information management; military medicine; rehabilitation; telecommunications