Mobile Framework for Healthcare Adoption of Short-Message Technologies (mFHAST)

Short-message technologies are one of the most widely used mobile applications with estimates of over 3 billion active users and encompassing upwards of 80% of mobile subscribers [Wikipedia]. Short-message technologies are generally composed of approximately 160 characters depending on device, implementation and character library. Due to the broad penetration and adoption of texting by people world-wide and the low infrastructure implementation requirements it has been identified as a valuable method for communicating health information across all socio-economic health settings.

Many healthcare settings, especially those within rural and low-income environments do not have the infrastructure needed to effectively support messaging payloads above a few kilobytes. This might be due to limitations of the mobile technology (e.g., low-end smartphone) or may be due to a lack of robust network connections within their area (e.g., sparse distribution of cell phone towers). Projects within these areas have frequently adopted short-message services as an intermediary way in which to communicate health care and public health services in a limited fashion. Most times, project-specific short-message structures are used in order to make ad-hoc standards for communicating essential information.

Within rural, remote and underserved settings there is a lack of robust information communication technologies (ICTs). Adoption of mobile solutions is growing, hence making short-message methods of health care communication a viable standard to promote. Communications might include broadcast-level public health messaging, disease management data collection, health services and supply management.

Healthcare-related short-message projects have frequently adopted short-message technologies as an intermediary way in which to communicate health care, public health and emergency response services in a limited fashion. Most times, project-specific short-message structures are used in order to make ad-hoc standards for communicating essential information.

There is currently no known standard for adoption and implementation of short-message technologies within the healthcare domain. Due to the prevalence of these global ad-hoc efforts and the interoperability implications therein it is critical that a standard in this domain be developed.