"Simply put, in the absence of a radical shift towards prevention and public health, we will not be successful in containing medical costs or improving the health of the American people." - President Barack Obama

Wireless health solutions offer just such a "radical shift" for the future of health care delivery, starting with disease prevention. Whether via mobile phone or smart "band-aids" or other devices, wireless health applications offer convenient and personalized solutions to help people make changes in their lifestyle and reduce their risk for disease.

While disease factors may be genetic, environmental or behavioral, up to 40 percent of all chronic conditions can be attributed to our behavior – including diet, exercise, cigarette smoking and substance abuse. Chronic conditions place an enormous burden on our healthcare system. In 2003, a study released by the CDC and RTI International found that obesity-related medical expenditures alone reached $75 billion.

Regardless of the factor influencing a condition, wireless technologies offer great promise for helping people stay healthy. Wireless sensors, for example, can detect a 'shift' in health as soon as it occurs. A patient with high blood pressure can be monitored with a wireless device that picks up changes and sends an early warning to the doctor – preempting complications such as stroke, heart attack, or kidney disease.
 
Researchers have also developed algorithms that detect individual preference and treatment compliance patterns, making it possible to create personalized applications for end-users that provide timely advice and automated reminders to take medication or modify behavior.
 
The Institute's focus on preempting disease is critical to enhancing health and wellbeing, as well as to overcoming the high costs associated with chronic disease in the U.S.

Annual Health Care Costs: U.S.