First hospital-backed preventive healthcare mobile app in PH

Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) and Voyager Innovations, a subsidiary of wireless services leader Smart Communications Inc., recently launched the country’s first hospital-backed preventive healthcare application which helps users manage their nutrition intake and allows patients to transact with CSMC more easily.

Available for free at the Google Play Store, the smartphone App called LowCal lets users log their food intake and check if they have been getting the right amount of protein, carbohydrates and fat. It has a localized food database, which includes Filipino favorites like banana cue (fried bananas in sugar), bibingka (rice cake), taho (soy pudding), and daing (dried fish).

Another feature is a diet guide detailing a person’s nutritional needs at different life stages. There are tabs for infants, preschoolers, schoolchildren, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and lactating women. LowCal also has tips for sickness prevention.

“Unlike other food monitoring apps, LowCal puts a premium on a balanced diet and good health, not just calorie counting for weight loss. This App was codeveloped by CSMC health professionals, so users are assured that they are getting expert guidance,” said  Pilar Nenuca Almira, president and chief executive officer of CSMC.

Almira added: “LowCal is part of our proactive approach to healthcare.  This may sound strange coming from a hospital official, but the truth is: we don’t want to see you on our hospital beds. But if you need to be in a hospital, CSMC is here to take care of you.”

Aside from featuring a food diary and health tips, LowCal requests users to register information like contact details, allergies and other health conditions. The information can be used by CSMC to speed up the patient registration process in case the user is brought to the hospital.

The app also has an auto-dialer to CSMC’s emergency room, hotlines, home service department and wellness clinic.

Voyager chief operating officer Benjie Fernandez said: “Mobile technology has vastly changed the way people live. By partnering with CSMC, we hope to use mobile technology to effectively promote health and wellness among Filipinos. The App will help them stay healthy and, should they need CSMC’s services, will help them transact with the hospital quickly and more efficiently.”

A 235-bed tertiary hospital, CSMC is one of the leading hospitals in the Philippines and  known for its success in the fields of neurosurgery, cardiology, comprehensive cancer care, comprehensive women’s care and rehabilitation medicine. It is owned by the Archdiocese of Manila and managed by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. through Colinas Verdes Hospital Managers Corp.

Voyager is Smart’s wholly owned subsidiary which is focused on digital growth and opportunities beyond the traditional voice, SMS and data offerings. Smart is the only telecommunications company to date that has been actively engaged in mobile health, with various globally and locally recognized initiatives and platforms developed in collaboration with partners.