# Miasano: Mobile Health App for Improved Evidence-Based Rehabilitation Outcomes and Multi-Lingual Clinical Interactions

> **NIH NIH R43** · ORTHOCARE INNOVATIONS, LLC · 2022 · $258,768

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This SBIR Phase I project will create a proof-of-concept app for improving clinical interactions and use of 
evidence-based practice between patients and clinicians who may have different preferred languages. We call 
our proposed app Miasano (derived from the phrase “My Health” in the Esperanto Universal Language). The 
primary problem that our app addresses is that patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are collected 
less often in racial/ethnic minorities. Providers may not ask patients to complete PROMs due to language 
barriers. For example, the patient would not be able to comprehend a PROM in English and the provider may 
not be able to effectively communicate with the patient about the results. Because of the language barrier, 
patients may be hesitant or simply unable to express their health concerns or status. Many medical clinics can 
offer interpreters to assist with language barriers, but this creates a reliance on interpreter availability. When an 
interpreter is present, there is a possibility that the busy interpreter creates unintentional bias when interpreting 
PROM questions or relaying provider messages to the patient. These patient populations experience poorer 
health outcomes. This leads to health disparities because their health needs are not being properly evaluated 
or understood and evidence-based clinical care cannot take place. Further, Miasano provides the opportunity 
to be more inclusive in research studies by including PROMs in different languages. Individuals with different 
racial/ethnic backgrounds would be more easily included to participate in scientific research that uses PROMs. 
Therefore, the disparity in research inclusion would be reduced and could be ultimately eliminated through 
better representation in clinical trials and increased applicability of the research results. Our Miasano app 
solution to these problems combines several unique features: User Appropriate Language Switching which 
allows direct and instantaneous communication of health outcomes and status between two different 
languages, providing health assessment in the patient’s preferred language and interpretation of results in the 
health care provider’s preferred language, all in the same app; Text-to-Speech Accessibility and use of visual 
controls on the mobile device which enhances accessibility to the persons who might have some level of 
illiteracy and who prefer to communicate orally. The PROMs queries can be dictated by the mobile device and 
the user can respond by tapping on the screen. The health care provider receives the same complete 
assessment as if the patient had been able to read; and Defining Medical Terms with pop-up windows that 
display common language descriptions is important as medical terms may not be familiar even to those who 
are quite literate. The key differentiator of Miasano from current ad hoc clinical methods is empowering the 
patient who prefers a language other than English to c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10601742
- **Project number:** 1R43MD018240-01
- **Recipient organization:** ORTHOCARE INNOVATIONS, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** David A Boone
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $258,768
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-25 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10601742

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10601742, Miasano: Mobile Health App for Improved Evidence-Based Rehabilitation Outcomes and Multi-Lingual Clinical Interactions (1R43MD018240-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10601742. Licensed CC0.

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