Digitalization in Healthcare - Mobile Health (M-Health) Applications

Abstract

Nowadays, the rapid and effective delivery of health services is a very important issue. The integration of health services into technology-based systems has ensured the integration of the health field with an innovative style. With the development of technology and the diversification of technological tools, important steps have been taken in the digitalization of health services. These steps are taken for the digitalization of health services offer great opportunities for the health sector. The fact that health institutions follow the digitalization process closely and adapt quickly to this process has brought many advantages. This process provides great convenience in terms of providing better health services for both individuals who want to benefit from health services and all other stakeholders, as well as health personnel working in private or public institutions. Moreover, the concept of digital health, which has gained importance with the digitalization of health services, has many applications in itself. These are wearable technologies, virtual reality technologies, tele-medicine, e-health, 3d printers and m-health applications. Among these applications, mobile health technology makes a significant contribution to the delivery of health services. İndividuals witness new developments in technology day by day and adapt easily to these developments. İncreasing demand for smartphones/devices is a result of these developments. Therefore, mobile health applications that enable remote access and can be easily downloaded to smart devices are actively used by many users. İt is possible to say that mobile health applications have positive effects as well as negative effects, especially on privacy and trust. Examples of these mobile health applications developed by the Turkey Ministry of Health are applications such as “Hayat Eve Sigar”, “Korona Onlem”, “E-Nabız”, “MHRS (Central Physician Appointment System)” which have been popular recently. İn this study, it is aimed to examine the positive and negative effects on health services by giving information about mobile health applications developed by the Turkey Ministry of Health for both citizens and health personnel.