The Morristown, N.J.-based Atlantic Health System has launched its first version of four smartphone and tablet apps the organization says will allow the public to better track and maintain their health, as well as quickly access hospital information and resources.
There is a separate Be Well app for each of the Atlantic Health System hospitals: Morristown, Overlook and Newton Medical Centers and Goryeb Children’s Hospital. The apps can be downloaded from the App Store for Apple users, and the Google Play store for Android users, by searching “Be Well.” A Chilton Medical Center app is in development and will launch this summer, officials say.
Studies have shown mobile technology’s growing role in the management of health. According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, released in 2013, more than a third of U.S. adults have gone online to figure out a medical condition, and of these, half followed up with a visit to a medical professional. The Pew study also found that one in five smartphone owners has a health app, and industry reports predict that 500 million people will be using healthcare-related apps by next year.
The app includes numerous features that allow users to access resources and information, including:
- Atlantic Health System’s “Find a Doctor” tool
- The system’s health encyclopedia
- The Locations tool which allows users to find directions to the hospital specific to the app. Before arriving, users can also check emergency department wait times through the app
- Track Your Health, which allows users to track their weight, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, mood and headaches, and document their medications. The feature also allows pregnant users to document their progress.
The apps stream updates from Atlantic Health System’s social media channels, including each hospital’s Facebook, the Well Aware – Your Way blog, and the Atlantic Health System news feeds, allowing users to keep up with the latest news about the health system
