Microsoft Thursday said it’s working on a mobile health management solution with prepaid carrier TracFone Wireless.
According to a press release, the new solution aims to bring “the benefits of smartphone technology and services to underserved and high-risk populations through a new mobile health management solution offered through providers and insurers.”
Part of the reason for working with Tracfone lies in the fact that it is one of the largest Lifeline providers. Microsoft and TracFone will work with Health Choice Network (HCN), a Miami-based company that manages and connects a network of community health centers with more than 760,000 patients in 17 states.
The companies and HCN are planning a pilot project that will provide smartphones to diabetes patients to help them better manage their care.
The new solution will be offered on a Windows Phone and will provide HIPAA-enabled email and messaging communications to patients regarding their healthcare. In addition, it will provide appointment reminders with calendar functionality and remote device management that is standard with a Windows Phone.
Microsoft said that patients participating in the HCN pilot will receive a Windows Phone with TracFone’s prepaid services. The pilot’s goal is to demonstrate how access to mobile technology can help improve patient compliance, education and ultimately disease-related outcomes.
HCN will develop a customer application to help participants provide consent, deliver and receive reminders, ensure treatment plan understanding, and aid in disease self-tracking for blood sugar levels and other vital health information.
