How can HIT help patients with chronic conditions self-manage effectively?

Let me share a deeply personal journey watching my grandparents battle Arthritis for years. I remember the days when their sole reliance was on pills and being helpless when flares hit them suddenly. Then came the era of smartphones. Initially, my grandparents found comfort in a WhatsApp group, connecting with others who shared their struggles. It was where they felt understood and supported. Slowly, they moved to a mobile app, a form of HIT, where they could journal their flares, and share with the doctor. They even attended virtual physiotherapy sessions, significantly improving their arthritis management. HIT transformed their solitary battle into a collaborative effort, supported by a community that makes them feel empowered.

Epic mychart app is excellent way of tracking data errors and possible identity theft fraud occurring before it becomes a major issue. Most patients are not aware of family Members using their information as ID is not required to treat a patient.

Mobile apps are one form of HIT. These can be paired with a medical product or simply be for the purpose of tracking health data. One advantage of tracking data this way is to get instant feedback on your condition and progress toward goals. Some apps may include coaching to help you through the behavior changes required to manage chronic conditions.

As a diabetic, HIT makes it possible for me to receive a vast array of data to make decisions for my own healthcare. For example, I am looking to go on an insulin pump in the future as I have maintained fair control of my diabetes and want to go to the next level. HIT allows me to see what is working for others and what is not very easily to make decisions for what would work for me.

A 45-year-old patient with a 5-year history of Type 2 diabetes presented with challenges in blood sugar monitoring, medication adherence, and lifestyle management. The patient was introduced to a health information technology (HIT) platform tailored for diabetes care. Features included: - Bluetooth-enabled glucometer integration for automatic logging. - Medication reminders. - Dietary and exercise tracking with feedback. - Data analytics for trend observation. - Access to support groups and educational resources. Over subsequent months, the patient demonstrated improved blood sugar control, consistent medication adherence, and a proactive approach to lifestyle modifications.

While self-management can be done with HIT, I would recommend what I call guided self-management. Through my patient portal I can message my doctor to get his ideas on how I am managing my diabetes at any point and how to move forward. Because I regularly log my levels on my phone through my sensor, he can review my numbers as well as past lab values to see if what I want to do is reasonable clinically or if there is another option I may not have thought of.

Challenges in HIT Utilization: Patient: - Initial reluctance to adopt new technology. - Data privacy concerns. - Learning curve with the platform's features. Healthcare Provider: - Integration of HIT data with existing electronic health records. - Ensuring accurate data interpretation. - Time required for virtual consultations versus in-person. Payer: - Determining reimbursement models for telehealth services. - Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the HIT platform. - Addressing potential fraud or misuse in virtual consultations.

Technology is good at tracking data. You probably still want to connect with friends, family, or other people with your condition to get support in making changes to be healthier. Like having a walking buddy or attending a cooking class. Believing in yourself, that you can make one small change at a time, and then another, is actually the best place to start.