Dive Brief:
- A record number of U.S. residents are using mobile phones to access health information, according to a new study by Manhattan Research.
- Today, 95 million adults are using mobile health technologies, up 27% from the 75 million using such technology in 2012, researchers report.
- According to the study, 38% of users said smartphones were "essential" for finding health and medical information.
Dive Insight:
These numbers are big news. Mobile health technology use seems to be barreling ahead as consumers become dependent on health apps. Perhaps with so many consumers using these apps, doctors can leverage them to partner with patients, using these technologies for key functions like helping with medication compliance, tracking exercise and recording blood glucose levels. As the number of consumers comfortable with health apps continues to grow, expect to see these apps become a standard part of medical care.