According to an article appearing in “TATRC Times”, the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center’s (TATRC) https://www,tatrc,org Mobile Health Innovation Center (mHIC) has just launched a new research project.
The research project is titled, “Telehealth 2.0 Providing Continuity of Behavioral Health Clinical Care to Patients Using Mobile Devices.” The research is ongoing in partnership with the Defense Health Agency (DHA) https://www.health.mil/dha, Psychological Health Center of Excellence www.pdhealth.mill and the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood https://www.crdamc.amedd.army.mil. In addition, the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio www.uthscsa.edu is providing research support.
The mHIC evaluates emerging mobile technology to improve the quality of life for service members. This is accomplished by having mHIC provide the expertise plus a unique laboratory environment for research.
The research project will explore options to connect behavioral health providers at Fort Hood using their desktop computers to their existing patients through their patient’s personal mobile device.
The demonstration project will examine and address the security and privacy concerns of teleconferencing from the providers’ desktop to the patient regardless of location. Security concerns need to be addressed when teleconferencing since troops are often on temporary assignments or shipped to other locations and need more information..
mHIC Deputy Lab Manager, Ron Yeaw, sees this as an important step forward for the use of mobility in military medicine. He said, “As telehealth capabilities move beyond secure messaging and provider consults, mobile technology must mature with it. TATRC’s Mobile Health Care Environment framework was designed from its inception to support advanced capabilities.”
Currently, the project has already received first level Institutional Review Board approval for the protocol and is undergoing Human Research Protection Office review. The mobile device interface design has been completed and the TATRC team is working closely with DHA’s Video Network Center to ensure interoperability with their next generation communication platform. Patients are expected to begin using the system June 2018.
For more information, email Ron Yeaw at Ronald.e.yeaw2.civ@mail.mil.