Mobile Apps Put Our Health in our Hands
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on August 24, 2022
Mobile Apps Put Our Health in our Hands
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on August 24, 2022
Like most Canadians, you own a smartphone (88% of us age 15 and over had one in 2018) and you tap, swipe or click your handheld device a lot (45.4% of us check our smartphone at least every 30 minutes).
All-in-one tool
Today’s smartphones are feature-filled, all-in-one devices that can act as our GPS, camera, wallet, watch and more.
Our smartphones can also play an important role in our health and wellness. Want to lower your stress? Remember to take your medication? Keep track of your heart rate or cholesterol level? Meditate? There are apps for that.
In fact, there were over 350,000 digital health apps on the market as of 2021 — many of which are aimed at improving our wellbeing — and in simple and attainable ways.
In the driver’s seat
These apps, together with electronic devices like fitness trackers, smartwatches and other wearables, are referred to as mHealth technologies — the “m” being short for mobile — are putting us firmly in the driver’s seat of our health care.
There are digital devices to help us count our calories, monitor our sleep patterns, measure the steps we take and calm our minds. Not only can they help us achieve our goals for a healthy mind and body, but these tools also have built-in functionalities to help us develop healthy habits for life.
Monitor your health
Suppose you have a chronic condition like diabetes. In that case, you can use mHealth technologies to help keep your blood sugar levels in check, control your symptoms, avoid triggers, lower your risk for other conditions and adhere to your medication.
Access your health data
Medavie Blue Cross has a Diabetes Care Program that offers convenient, all-in-one access to a glucose monitoring tool, home-delivered test strips, education services and one-on-one counselling with health coaches. This can all be done from a smartphone or tablet. The program comes with a blood glucose meter that automatically updates your readings in an app — and allows you and your coach to see your health data in real-time.
Skip the wait line
With a few clicks of the mouse or a tap on your screen, you can connect with a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment anytime you need care. Our new Text Therapy service, for example, puts one-on-one counselling with a qualified therapist at your fingertips. Through text conversations with your therapist, you can get professional support for issues like anxiety, depression, stress and substance abuse — at a time and place that’s convenient and comfortable for you.
Boost your happiness
Text therapy joins the mental wellness options available through our digital health platform, Connected Care, along with digital and live therapy and a mindfulness app that can help train our brains to be in the moment and better process negative thoughts. Our app is just one of many examples of the health tech tools available to consumers dedicated to building our mental resilience, with features ranging from guided mediations to gratitude journals.
Manage your medication
Use an app to send daily reminders to take the drugs your doctor prescribed or get refills when they are about to expire. Medication management is just one of the virtual self-service options our industry-leading app, Blue Cross Mobile, features. Our app allows you to manage your benefits on the go from the palm of your hand. You can also use our app to:
- Submit claims electronically
- Access virtual care services
- Check your benefit coverage
- Review your claims history
- Find a health professional near you
Never has there been more digital tools in our toolbox to help us take charge of our health — and on our terms.
We’re proud to say that the Blue Cross Mobile app has the highest member rating among Canadian benefits providers! Download the app to start enjoying your benefits on the go!
For over 75 years, Medavie Blue Cross has been a leading health services partner for individuals, employers and governments across Canada. As the country’s leading Blue Cross plan with over one million card holders, we are a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits to...
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...