The ICanFunction mHealth Solution (mICF): A project bringing equity to health and social care within a person-centered approach

Abstract Background: Systems for health must evolve to become learning systems, facilitating the implementation of Universal Health Coverage, the integration of social and health services, and the democratization of health data to put service users at the center. Objectives: The ICanFunction mHealth Solution (mICF) is described and its application explored. mICF’s primary aim is to empower service users to achieve health equity through communication of their needs and aspirations with service providers. Furthermore, mICF has potential to become a tool to enhance interprofessional teamwork and to provide meaningful data for policy development to attain health equity. Methods: An international collaborative defined the project’s scope, as well as the content and technology towards a viable prototype. The project development is described since conception: a comprehensive needs assessment, first prototype, and future steps. Results: Responses (n=1,191) from 32 countries informed mICF’s scope, content, and prototype design. A linking platform, connecting natural language to the terms of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), was developed and a first minimum viable product was tested. Conclusion: mICF could facilitate a shift from disease-focused, institution-based, biomedical service provision to collaborative, person-centered, community-based services with a bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach. mICF should contribute information for more tailored interventions towards Universal Health Coverage through active participation of service user