Biomedical Engineering

Many people today couldn't live without their cellphone. They are tools that allow us to communicate with each other whenever and wherever we are (we can also play Angry Birds, but that's not related). In the smartphone world, there is an app for almost everything, including many medical tools that are growing in popularity among doctors and patients. In general, the ability to quickly access data and information allows people to make smarter decisions faster. Thousands of apps are available and they allow health professionals and consumers to access up-to-date medical resources at their fingertips.

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Consumer applications can download by individuals and used to monitor and maintain their health and wellness. Apps such as DiabetesHealth help people with diabetes monitor glucose levels, find healthy recipes, and read the latest research right on their phones and RxmindMe Prescriptions can be used to set reminders for all medications. Other apps allow patients to check their blood pressure, and track heart rate. There are even sophisticated apps that can help diagnose conditions such as sleep apnea, detect seizures, and automatically scan or

interpret cognitive testing results. Simple applications cans be used to track exercise routines, and help people make smarter decisions about what they eat. Consumers are also able to use the applications to schedule and track the medications they take on a regular basis. This is connected with the FDA, so if there is ever a recall or black box warning the patient is informed immediately. For patients with chronic pain an app can be used to record the specific time, location, and intensity of pain at the onset so their doctor can help identify trends for treatment.

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Healthcare professionals have access to applications which provide patients' personal health records, extensive drug databases, dosing calculators, and disease-risk calculators. Doctors can use interactive medical illustrations and videos to help patients understand a disease or treatment option. They are also able to keep up with the latest research and warnings. A very popular application is called Epocrates. The most comprehensive version of the application includes drug information sections with prescribing and safety information for thousands of brand name, generic, and OTC drugs. This app also includes information on drug interactions and can be used to ID pills based on physical characteristics or imprint code. Other applications can be used to interpret test results, handle billing, and contact the manufacture of drugs and medical equipment. And it's not just doctors who can get a helpful app; there are many applications available for first aid responders, nurses, medical secretaries, and medical technicians.

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An advantage of medical applications for smart phones is that the information is available to the doctors quickly and answers can be given without leaving the patient's bedside. Apps are a great solution for monitoring high-risk patients and reducing the need for office visits by allowing patients to follow-up rehabilitation exercises at home. Medical students or people in general can learn more about the body by playing with the anatomy/histology flashcard application or reviewing medical terminology in several languages.

Of course, even with the FDA approving many of the applications and a network of healthcare professionals reviewing applications, it does not replace the need for a full exam in-person with your doctor. Doctors are charged with treating the patient as a whole and relying on their years of training and experience to make the right diagnosis and suggest treatments. But if an application helps my doctor make a more accurate decision or send my prescription directly to the pharmacy, I'm happy to have him/her use their iPhone.

What do you think about doctors using medical applications?

Resources

Top 10 Innovations for 2012: Medical Apps for Mobile Devices

Those Scan Results Are Just an App Away