On Tuesday, three federally designated Beacon communities -- located in New Orleans, southeast Michigan and Cincinnati -- launched text messaging campaigns to provide wellness resources for individuals at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, Healthcare Informatics reports (Healthcare Informatics, 1/30).
The 2009 federal economic stimulus package included funds for Beacon community grants aimed at helping health care providers use health IT in their communities (iHealthBeat, 5/18/11).
The "txt4health" campaigns aim to help individuals:
- Assess their diabetes risk levels;
- Manage their health; and
- Access resources on wellness and diabetes care.
Residents can participate in the program by texting "HEALTH" to 300400 and then answering questions that evaluate their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
The questions will be used to develop a customized texting program to help participants improve and manage their health (Healthcare Informatics, 1/30).
National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari said that the campaign "will test a new form of public engagement, spearheaded by text messaging that is widely available (and) inexpensive and allows for immediate delivery of essential consumer health information" (Wicklund, Government Health IT, 1/27).