Mobile Health Applications

What are they? Software or applications that run on smartphones or mobile communications. Example: application that counts caloric intake.

Benefits:

Manage own health. Promote healthy living. Have useful information all the time. Guidance in maintaining a healthy weight.

Health/Fitness Applications and further information go to:

Mobile App Security:

Mobile Applications with greater risk require FDA review. Many mobile applications have minimal risk. But, just as any website you should look at the applications privacy content page and know what information the application will collect. Before any personal information is to be input into a website or application it is best to know what it will be used for.

Reference

Mobile Medical Applications. (2018). Mobile Medical Applications. U.S. food and drug administration. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/digitalhealth/mobilemedicalapplications/default.htm

Selecting Health Websites

Selecting websites can be difficult and misleading with so much information present on the internet. Some guidelines and questions to ask can help find quality sources and sifting through information.

1.Select recognized authorities: Know who is responsible for the content provided. Who is responsible can usually be found on “about us” page.

2. Check quality: Learning about the websites editorial board, or reviewed information before posting.

3. Be Skeptical: Do health claims sound “too good to be true,” is it the only site making certain claims, and does it promise quick or dramatic results?

4. Evidence: Is an Author identified for information provided? Does the website rely on testimonials?

5. Currency/Bias: Is the information provided up to date? Who pays for the site, and what is the purpose of the site?

6. Privacy: Is there a privacy policy? Information is collected from websites, and that site should have a “privacy”, “privacy policy” section with details about the information collected.

Recommended Websites and Organizations (URL’s provided)

MedlinePlus. (2015). MedlinePluse guide to healthy web surfing. U.S. national library of medicine. Retrived from https://medlineplus.gov/healthywebsurfing.html

Electronic Health Records

What is an electronic health record? A digital version of a patients health chart or record. Which can contain medical histories, diagnosis, medications, treatment plans, immunization record, allergies, laboratory (blood work) results, radiology or imaging such as x-rays.

Benefits:

  • Improved Patient Care.
  • Increased Patient Participation
  • Improved Care Coordination
  • Better Patient Outcomes
  • More Efficient and Cost Effective

Security

Some safety measures are built into electronic health records. Not every electronic health record is the same so it is important to search for privacy policies, or security measures within each electronic health record. Some measures may include access controls, encrypting, and audit trial. Access Control is having passwords or pins to limit access. Encrypting is needing a special key to access the information and only those authorized can decrypt the information for use. Lastly, Audit Trial is records who is accessing the information and if there are any changes that are made.

Reference

What is an electronic health record (EHR)? (2018). Health IT. The office of the national coordinator for health information technology. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-electronic-health-record-ehr

Rodriguez, L. (2011). Privacy, security, and electronic health records. The office of the national coordinator for health information technology. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/privacy-and-security-of-ehrs/privacy-security-electronic-health-records

Virtual Support Groups

Support groups are a great resource that can help individuals through difficult situations. Support groups help us see we are not struggling alone. Stories, experiences are shared and helps prevent feelings of isolation or being alone. While support groups are open to anyone, many times they are topic specific and finding the right one may be a challenge. Do not get discouraged if a support group doesn’t feel right, looking at multiple can provide a person with great options and better support.

Finding a support group:

Mental Health America http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/find-support-groups Is a great source for many specific topics where support groups can be found and located. Some fo these include:

Many more support groups can be found. Some of the topics selected are online groups that stories can be shared and read over the internet or even meetings held to provide opportunities to make new friends and receive support in person. Alcohol Anonymous is a group that meets in person for example and provides guidelines and a safe judgment free area to explain and work through difficulties. While the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides a service online to support those that are struggling with suicidal thoughts and may need some guidance through thought process. Alzheimers Association and Families for Depression Awareness are to provide support groups to longterm problems that do or may exist. Providing suggestions, or someone to just listen to concerns.

Reference

Find support groups. (n.d.) Mental health America. Retrived from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/find-support-groups

Computer Information

Internet Service Providers:

Company that provides access to the internet. The internet is a global network. The network is set up and will connect to other networks. This connection throughout the world whether through cables or wireless connections is the internet. Within the internet websites are created and are stored in servers. When a website is searched such as google.com the server google is stored in will be sent back to the computer that has access and may be used. Internet Service Providers provide access to these networks globally and is usually done through monthly subscription or fee for their service.

Modems/Routers

Modems are devices that transfer data digitally, or they modify and control how information is processed or interpreted. The modem is the device that allows you to connect from cable, or telephone to digital world of the computer.

Routers are devices that allow several computers or other devices connections to the same internet connection. This creates a single network, and through the internet connection that single network connects to the world globally through other network connections.

Web Browsers and “The Cloud”

The global connection between computer networks is the internet. The cloud is in this global network and allows storage and access of information that will be retrieved from specific networks when access is granted by a computer user. Connecting to the “web” or “the cloud” is the same thing as going online and using the internet.

Reference

What is the internet. (n.d.). GCF global. Retrieved from https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetbasics/what-is-the-internet/1/

How do I connect to the internet. (n.d.). GCF global. Retrieved from https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/connecting-to-the-internet/1/

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