Potentials of internet-based patient engagement and education programs to reduce hospital readmissions: a spotlight on need in heart failure.

Internet-based applications and mobile health technology has advanced at unprecedented rates over the last decade and has proved to be a highly effective platform for communication. Simultaneously, the United States health care system has reached a critical and unsustainable level of spending, arising largely from ingrained system inefficiencies and overall suboptimum communication. Internet-based and mobile health technology offers an innovative solution to both of these problems. The prevention of readmissions for heart failure provides an excellent example of how this new technology can be used in today's health care environment to improve patient care.