DETROIT ? The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society announced this week a joint agreement designed to bring attention to mobile Health solutions for the benefit of mhealth app developers, device manufacturers, healthcare services providers and consumers, with particular focus on those solutions originating in Michigan.

The two organizations will capitalize on the resources and relationships of each organization, and focus on the growth of mHealth initiatives that will benefit Michigan?s healthcare and mobile/wireless communities, Michigan?s economy, and the mHealth community at-large throughout the U.S. and across the globe. As designated in the agreement, MTAM and HIMSS will jointly:

provide resources and publications,

produce events, and

establish relationships.

With more than 327 million wireless subscriber connections in the U.S., mHealth solutions are vital to making healthcare more efficient, effective and patient-focused. It is estimated that remote patient monitoring, driven by mobile technologies, will achieve over $36 billion in global healthcare cost savings by 2018, according to Juniper Research. In the U.S.by 2016, more than 3 million patients are expected to be monitored remotely over cellular networks, and revenue driven by mHealth technologies will reach $296.5 million by 2019, according to GBI Research.

?Mobile technology has the ubiquitous ability to touch all facets of the healthcare delivery system ? quality, accessibility, safety and cost-effectiveness ? which provides for the promise of mHealth. mHIMSS is excited to collaborate with MTAM because of the ability to learn from applications of mobile technology in other industries and apply these to the healthcare system,? said David Collins, Senior Director, mHIMSS Initiative, HIMSS.

?When an organization with the reach of HIMSS decides to focus directly on the importance of mobility in healthcare through the launch of the mHIMSS initiative, that says everything you need to know about the growing importance of making the one thing that most healthcare professionals already posses ? their smart device ? the most important medical device they can use,? said Kevin Lasser, Chairman of MTAM?s statewide mHealth Advisory Council.

MTAM views mHealth as a vital growth opportunity with the ability to be a driving force in Michigan?s economic revitalization. As a result, the organization is utilizing its mHealth Advisory Council and its statewide platform, along with the organization?s national relationships, to provide opportunities for education, relationship building and business development.

?Due to changes in the healthcare environment, and the aging of the baby boomer population, mHealth is becoming an increasingly critical component to providing quality healthcare,? said Linda Daichendt, MTAM Executive Director. ?We believe Michigan has the ability to be on the forefront of these efforts, and we take great pride that HIMSS has seen the work being done in Michigan and chosen to align with MTAM to showcase this message nationally and globally.?