Texting Finds Medical Uses

Like it or not, texting is here to stay.  In the article, DID U TK UR MEDS? — Texting Can Improve Meds Use, Chronic Disease Treatment, the unnamed author points out some very important ways that texting is now being used in the medical community.

Texting has been called everything from a lethal distraction in cars (it is) to a dehumanizing way to communicate (it can be), but now it has found a place in health care.  In my county, texting is an optional way for schools to communicate school-wide announcements to parents in both emergency and non-emergency situations.  Obviously it’s not the way to have a conference with your child’s teacher, but it is a quick and easy way to hear about an early school closing, for example.

In the health care field, texting can be used as a way to remind patients of appointments, to take medications, or to do treatments such as physical therapy done at home.  According to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center pediatrician Delphine Robotham, “For better or worse, this technology is here, and sending a text to a patient’s cell phone about an upcoming appointment or a test or simply to remind them to take their meds is a great example of how we can harness a new communication technology for a greater good.”

For those who are chronically ill, another way to help disease treatment is by making sure you get adequate sleep.  One thing that can help with your sleep is a comfortable mattress.  Three specialty mattresses to check out are the memory foam mattress, the air bed, and the natural latex mattress.