Qualcomm Incorporated, via its Wireless Reach initiative, announced the launch of the Dulce Wireless Tijuana project.
The project is expected to empower underserved communities to improve diabetes care and prevention through the use of 3G mobile technologies. Company officials said that the end goal of the project is to effectively monitor and treat the condition.
Combining mobile applications, Web applications, mobile phones, netbooks, laptops, diabetes educational content, and healthcare worker and patient training, this new project creates the Dulce Wireless Tijuana system. Company officials said that this system is available wirelessly through Qualcomm’s 3G technology offered by Iusacell’s 3G EV-DO network.
The components provided offer many benefits to healthcare workers. In real time, they can locate and receive confidential access to patient information, manage patient appointments and review training curriculum, said company officials. Additionally, patients are also able to review diabetes information online, such as instructional videos, participate in interactive surveys.
“This project is a significant step forward in increasing patient access to proper diabetes care in Tijuana,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO at Qualcomm, adding that the use of mobile technology has the potential to improve health outcomes, bring down costs and provide more people with access to care.
The organizations that are collaborating with Wireless Reach to provide technical assistance, program management, evaluation, in-kind and monetary support include the International Community Foundation and its sister organization, the Fundacion Internacional de la Comunidad; Iusacell; and the Social Security Institute of Mexico.
Other organizations are the Medical School at the Autonomous University of Baja California; the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute; and Fronteras Unidas PRO SALUD.
“In addition to using 3G technology in Dulce Wireless Tijuana, another true innovation is the way in which all the organizations in this unique bi-national public, private and nonprofit community are collaborating together to advance our common commitment to empower diabetic patients to take control of their health,” said Richard Kiy, president of ICF.
Pablo Contreras Rodriguez, IMSS regional delegate for Baja California, said that they want to study this project to scientifically prove the positive impact of this innovative solution on the public health problem of diabetes to provide this alternative as an effective model of care for all of Mexico and the world.
Research reports suggest that in less than four decades, diabetes has become the most prominent public health problem around the U.S.-Mexico border with over 1.2 million people living with the condition.
Company officials said that recognizing the need to find a solution to this problem via this project, a bi-national and multi-sector alliance has formed to study the feasibility of combining 3G wireless applications and services with a community and patient focus on diabetes care. This will help in determining whether this approach can be adapted as a model for the region.
As part of the project, Dulce Wireless Tijuana patients are expected to have access to the system and technology including primary care services and disease management programs.
Earlier this month, Qualcomm ended the sale of its standalone, battery-powered portable TV sets.
Anshu Shrivastava is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of Anshu’s articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Tammy Wolf
