COPD Treatment Shows Significant Success with Smartphone Application
Patients suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can now get support from a new smartphone application. Offered through the Arizona Care Network, a physician-led group that has partnered with more than 10 hospitals, the app lets sufferers electronically transmit their condition data to clinicians for more effective COPD control via a connected device.
As highlighted in Health IT Outcomes,this new mobile health technology lets patients monitor their condition and interact with their physician to improve treatment for a disease that often benefits from close clinician observation.
The solution, called Propeller, is a small device that attaches to the top of the patient’s existing inhaler and tracks their medication use by recording the time and place it was used. The data collected, along with immediate and customized feedback, can help patients better understand and manage their asthma or COPD.
Many experts recommend that COPD patients keep track of their symptoms, triggers, and medications. However, many COPD patients have trouble remembering to update a diary so it can become an inaccurate and incomplete record of respiratory health over time. Because Propeller’s data can be easily shared with physicians, patients have the ability to review the data with their clinicians during office visits and physicians can use the information to remotely monitor symptoms and determine when a change in therapy may be needed.
The application offers several treatment options ranging from daily therapy to early intervention in an effort to prevent emergencies. Treatments can also be customized to each patient’s needs based on the data collected.
Helping COPD and asthma sufferers better manage and control their condition can lead to reduced healthcare costs, the prevention of unnecessary hospital visits and allow sufferers to control their condition while maintaining a higher quality of life.
