Jerry Lepore is driving the healthcare mobile app development company, MobileSmith Health, to transform healthcare one life at a time as CEO.
Lepore, who joined the MobileSmith Board of Directors in 2018 before being named CEO in January 2020, states, “We want to bring the patient in the healthcare ecosystem to the center of the care circle using two approaches.”Lepore is a prolific serial entrepreneur who has established, led, and sold more than a dozen businesses.
According to Lepore, “first and foremost, we want to engage patients in every aspect of their health through technology and applications that enable them to be involved and better manage their care.”Second, we want to collect and consolidate a patient’s data in order to assist physicians and other providers in achieving improved outcomes for that patient and patient population while simultaneously lowering overall costs.
Upending the Traditional Patient Experience
Since its inception in 2013, MobileSmith has focused on key healthcare delivery segments in which patients experience difficulties, such as surgical procedures and adherence to pre- and post-operative instruction, health literacy, and other aspects of the process. In addition, the business offers cutting-edge digital patient experiences that directly increase patient satisfaction, such as indoor navigation and clinic “check-ins.”
The traditional patient experience, in which the patient frequently feels like an afterthought to the clinician and the technology, is well-known to everyone. How much time is spent on paperwork and checking electronic boxes on an electronic health records (EHR) system during a patient visit? How much actual time is spent listening to the patient and a doctor?
According to Lepore, “the typical patient visit is very one-sided and lacks the necessary collaboration to achieve better patient outcomes.” So, how do we reposition it? A software solution that runs on a platform that everyone has access to, a mobile device, is offered by MobileSmith. Time can be saved, patient adherence can be increased, and patients can become more involved in their own care thanks to MobileSmith’s mobile apps.
Engaging Patients in Their Own Health
The MobileSmith PeriOp Patient Adherence app is beneficial to both patients and providers because it gives patients the tools they need to manage their own pre- and post-surgical tasks and lessens the amount of work that practices have to do in administrative departments. A last-minute cancellation can cost a hospital or ambulatory surgical center more than $5,200 in lost revenue because surgeries account for 60% of total hospital revenues. In addition, patients who fail to fast, take or stop certain medications, or show up on time account for 60% of all same-day cancellations. Patients receive instructions via the PeriOp Patient Adherence app by “prescribing,” and notifications appear until each item is checked off a list. Is it time to stop taking warfarin? Check.
Has the patient looked over the instructions before the surgery? Check. Do you recall the recent hospitalization prior to surgery? Check. Instead of calling each patient at every stage of the pre-surgery process, the MobileSmith app communicates with provider EHR systems, allowing staff to manage exceptions and monitor compliance.
Instead of printed instructions that can be misplaced or thrown away after surgery, the app contains the discharge and aftercare instructions in an easily accessible format. Have you set up the follow-up visit? Check. Did you change your dress today? Check. Are you ready for the first session of physical therapy? Check.
According to Lepore, “our perioperative applications are a set of alerts, management capabilities, and instructions that can be adhered to by the patient on a daily basis or even hourly basis.” Responses are captured and presented to the clinical staff so that they can monitor what’s happening during the preparation period, the day of, and the post-op period to ensure a better patient outcome.
Additionally, MobileSmith Health apps can integrate patient-reported data from fitness trackers, blood monitoring systems, and other devices into electronic medical records (EMRs) so that healthcare professionals can examine that data. The company is working on apps that will help patients monitor and manage chronic conditions like diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The apps are expected to be available in early 2022.
Pick Something You Love
MobileSmith’s strengths as a healthcare mobile app developer are well-suited to Pick Something You Love Healthcare’s move to value-based care and improving patient outcomes. Managing one’s healthcare is a natural progression given that people of all ages are accustomed to banking, shopping, browsing, and doing other things on their mobile devices.
Lepore has found a personal and professional sweet spot in leading MobileSmith Health. Lepore states, “I decided to focus on areas that really excite me, such as education, child services, and healthcare. Two-thirds of my career has been more entrepreneurial.” When looking for a job, you must choose something you enjoy. If you don’t, you won’t work at it with the passion you need every minute of every day, which is what an entrepreneur needs to do.
According to Lepore, “I’ve always felt that if I was focusing on things that were important to me and important to others, rather than focusing on a job and a career,” I would be happier and more productive. It’s a great fit because MobileSmith Health is right in the middle of the healthcare industry at a great time.