Microsoft to make cities healthier through mobile app

A new app called Health Choices will provide users in the UK with access to much of the information on the existing National Health Service (NHS) Choices website through the convenience of their smartphone.

The app is augmented by Microsoft HealthVault, a secure and globally deployed specialist medical data repository, and can therefore offer highly personalised assistance.

“Is a smart city also a healthier city? In theory the answer is yes but in reality, the path from smart city to healthier city is not assured,” said Elena Bonfiglioli, Senior Director for Health, Public Sector EMEA, Microsoft. “Among the cities that have started the journey to becoming smart cities, most are focused on energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, intelligent buildings, transport, and infrastructure. Only a few are also focused on the ‘human factor’–the people-side of the sustainability equation: education, health, wellbeing, and social services. Cities need to take a holistic approach. Using cloud services and apps like Health Choices can help improve the health of their citizens.”

Users of the Health Choices app will gain access to the NHS Choices health encyclopaedia and symptom checkers and lookup services, such as the nearest Accident & Emergency department. There are also in-depth scorecards showing the government’s public performance data for local general practice doctror, hospitals and other NHS organisations.

The real value of the Health Choices app will be in personalisation, say the desigers. A user of the app can choose to enter as much personal information about their own healthcare situation, for clear and simple advice and later retrieval. The information is stored on Microsoft’s HealthVault platform.

“Health Choices will effectively manage and deliver health services to citizens closer to home, in community settings and beyond the perimeter of the hospitals,” said Bonfiglioli. “Santander in Spain is a great example of a city that is focusing on delivering innovative services in a holistic way. In partnership with Microsoft, the city launched the MedCitas Appointment Booking and Pharmacy Applications. The applications are designed to put healthier lifestyle choices at everyone’s fingertips, allowing citizens to use mobile apps to book and manage health appointments.”