The US National Science Foundation has awarded a grant of US$1.4 million to two universities who will investigate the use of mobile health before, during and after hospital surgery.

The results of the investigation will be used in training simulations designed to improve co-ordination among hospital staff in pre-op, the operating theatre and post-anesthesia care.

This is not an area that normally gets much attention in mobile health which is more focused on prevention, for instance remote monitoring of patients with a chronic disease,

As part of the research, the researchers will develop an app to assist in gathering data to create an artificial intelligence to run mobile applications in hospitals.

The academics working on the project are from two universities: Clemson University and University of South Carolina. Their research will be applied at three hospitals across the state.