title: Mobile Phone Health Applications for the Federal Sector.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the US healthcare system moves toward a mobile care model, mobile phones will play a significant role in the future of healthcare delivery. Today, 90% of American adults own a mobile phone and 64% own a smartphone, yet many healthcare organizations are only beginning to explore the opportunities in which mobile phones can improve and streamline care.
  
  
  METHODS
  After searching Google Scholar, the Association for Computing Machinery Database, and PubMed for articles related to mobile phone health applications and cell phone text message health, we selected articles and studies related to the application of mobile phones in healthcare. From our initial review, we identified the potential application areas and continued to refine our search, identifying a total of 55 articles for additional review and analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the literature, we identified 3 main themes for mobile phone implementation in improving healthcare: primary, preventive, and population health. We recommend federal health leaders pursue the value and potential in these areas; not only because 90% of Americans already own mobile phones, but also because mobile phone integration can provide substantial access and potential cost savings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the positive findings of multiple studies in primary, preventive, and population health, we propose a 5-year federal implementation plan to integrate mobile phone capabilities into federal healthcare delivery. Our proposal has the potential to improve access, reduce costs, and increase patient satisfaction, therefore changing the way the federal sector delivers healthcare by 2021.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Christin S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: Fred K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Weigel
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D035082:Federal Government; D006801:Humans; D063731:Mobile Applications; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States
keywords: federal health; healthcare; mobile phone; primary care; text message