Mobile Supported Health Services: Experiences in Orthopaedic Care

Mobile applications, wearables, in-home medical devices and other peripherals are reshaping consumer participation in healthcare. While much research has focused on patient facing mobile technologies, there remains limited evidence of the implications of technologies on models of care and health service delivery. In this paper, we present an evaluation of the clinician experiences of using a bidirectional healthcare platform, Activate TKR, for orthopaedic patients undergoing a Total Knee Replacement (TKR). The platform provides mobile-enabled media rich content to support patients through their journey, while facilitating data sharing and remote monitoring by clinicians. Results show that physiotherapists experienced the greatest enhancements in care delivery through access to patient generated information which improved appointments, status and progress discussion, and tailoring of physiotherapy. Surgeons found value in the mobile-enabled information patients accessed in preparation for surgery, enhancing their overall TKR experience.