FCC, medical leaders hold mHealth summit to discuss mobile medical device technology

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) met with medical technology leaders, wireless communications companies and healthcare organizations Wednesday to discuss the potentials and challenges of mobile health devices.

The FCC sought input from various market players on the barriers to the implementation of wireless technology, including connectivity, reliability and security.

The opportunities for remote monitoring of patients with chronic or long-term conditions are especially attractive, noted FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, who quoted an economist’s estimation that the U.S. healthcare system could save up to $197 billion over the next 25 years by making better use of chronic disease monitoring. “Among the elderly alone, mHealth can reduce costs by 25 percent, by reducing the number of face-to-face consultations needed,” Genachowski added.

Participants included medical device companies, communications technology companies, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, the Department of Health & Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the Alfred Mann Foundation, and the West Wireless Health Institute.

To learn more, read the FCC meeting transcript.