Institute For The Future

Online relief is in sight for pain sufferers

Another interesting health app I have recently discovered is called ReliefInsite. It bills itself as a source of secure online pain management services, offering real-time pain mapping, monitoring, and analysis. I was struck by its three-pronged approach--it's home page targets patients themselves, health care companies, and health care providers.

ReliefInsite uses a "freemium" model for patients. It doesn't charge for its basic pain diary service, which consists of a body map (see image, below), which can be used for recording pain location and intensity; a notes feature, for recording comments; and basic reports, which can be shared, printed, and/or saved.

For a premium of $6.95/month, or $49.95/year, users can record even more information:

 

 

 

• Body Map. Pain location/intensity. (Track 3 pain levels)
• Characteristics. Describe/define your pain. (For female users a menses tracking tool is included.)
• Symptoms. How you feel. Any effects of medication.
• Lifestyle. Impact on your work, finances, activities, life, etc.
• Medications & Treatment. Tracking and compliance.
• Notes. Record your comments.
• Reminders. Up to 3 per day.
• Reports+. Provider (Doctor) Ready Report (PRR) and customizable reports. Share securely online with your doctor and others. Print or save on your computer.

With either service, "[d]iaries can be securely shared with your doctor, nurse, therapist, family members, friends." Providers can invite patients to join and can track their Free or Premium Diary users, for free.

 

 

But "ReliefInsite is not just for pain patients"; it offers health care companies "[a] simple, effective, inexpensive and easy way to

reach out, react and monitor patients in real-time." Why might a health care company be interested in this service?

 

Increasingly, outcomes and quality of care are driving healthcare.

However, as the management of chronic conditions puts ever greater strain on the healthcare system, there's a need to integrate technology into the equation and put more control in the hands of patients.

 

 

ReliefInsite uses a subscription model for its case management services, which can be completely customized and branded for health care companies. The web-based platform is secure and HIPAA-complaint. It is also open source. I suspect that it may eventually be used for other types of disease management services.

 

 

ReliefInsite offers valuable services to many stakeholders in the health care world, and it uses an interesting combination of revenue streams to do so. It makes anytime, anyplace health possible for patients, wherever they have access to the Internet (or they can make diary entries over the phone, using ReliefInsite's interactive voice response system). I would hope that, eventually, mobile technology will be integrated into the service.