NEHI Identifies 11 Emerging Chronic Disease Technologies To Watch

June 13, 2012

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Nick King
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NEHI Identifies 11 Emerging Chronic Disease Technologies To Watch

Cites Potential to Improve Care, Lower Costs for At-Risk Populations

 CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (June 13, 2012) – NEHI, a national health policy institute dedicated to finding innovative solutions to health care problems, today identified eleven emerging technologies that have the potential to improve care and lower costs for chronic disease patients, especially those in at-risk populations.

The “technologies to watch” target a range of chronic illnesses, including diabetes, asthma, stroke and heart disease, and reflect the growing emphasis on empowering patients to monitor their own care through the use of mobile platforms, social networking and home-based telehealth technologies. The technologies include web-based platforms that enable patients to connect virtually to their physician through their smartphone or personal computer, cell phone apps for medication reminders and asthma control, and in-car wireless systems that monitor patients’ health while they are driving. According to NEHI’s selection criteria, the technologies are under-used but have high future potential and align to the safety net population with low cost and easy access.

“Nearly half of all American adults have at least one chronic illness,” said NEHI President Wendy Everett. “And these eleven emerging technologies hold the promise of greatly helping them manage their disease and connect with their doctors in real time.”

Each of the technologies are profiled in NEHI’s new report, “Getting to Value: Eleven Chronic Disease Technologies to Watch,” published with support from the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF). The report also identifies cross-cutting lessons learned about the role of technology in creating value and offers an overview of some of the barriers that hold back their adoption.

“The burden of chronic disease falls disproportionately on safety-net populations,” said Margaret Laws, director of CHCF’s Innovations for the Underserved Program. “So it’s imperative that we explore ways in which we can use new technologies to lower cost and improve quality and access.” 

 The eleven technologies on NEHI’s watch list include:

• Tele-Stroke Care
• Virtual Visits
• Mobile Asthma Management Tools
• In-Car Telehealth
• Extended Care eVisits
• Mobile Clinical Decision Support
• Medication Adherence Tools
• Social Media Promoting Health
• Mobile Cardiovascular Tools
• Home Telehealth
• Mobile Diabetes Management Tools

NEHI has years of experience in identifying underused but promising health care technologies and recommending ways to overcome barriers to adoption. In addition to the current project identifying the eleven chronic disease technologies, NEHI’s research has focused on the promise of tele-ICUs, Computerized Physician Order Entry, and a range of telemedicine technologies.

About NEHI

NEHI is a national health policy institute focused on enabling innovation to improve health care quality and lower health care costs. In partnership with membersfrom all across the health care system, NEHI conducts evidence-based research and stimulates policy change to improve the quality and the value of health care. Together with this unparalleled network of committed health care leaders, NEHI brings an objective, collaborative and fresh voice to health policy. For more information, visit www.nehi.net.

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