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2012 Prediction: iPads, iPhones, & Androids Will Become Commonplace In ORs

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Okay, maybe not quite an Amazing Kreskin or Nostradamus type of prediction. Every week, I continue to read of more and more examples of how technology is being embraced in medicine. iPads to aid in surgery, smartphone apps to improve healthcare delivery, and so on.

Here is another recent example of a surgeon using an iPad every day in the OR. Reading this article reminded me of a potential product idea I had a few months ago. Okay, at the risk of someone stealing the idea and actually doing something with it, I’ll share. I think there is a growing market opportunity to create a package / cover for iPads and smartphones used in the OR. The cover could allow the iPad to be used in the sterile field, while protecting the product and be discarded after use. (The reality is that developing an iPad cover for this use is not in my area of expertise.)

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Do Your Own ECG at Home With Your Smartphone

June 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Score another one for cool medical technology.

SHL Telemedicine has announced the release of SmartHeart, a lightweight and portable device that they claim can take “hospital-grade” ECGs by “anyone, anywhere, anytime.” The device connects wirelessly to smartphones and can transmit the ECG to a physician for a preliminary diagnosis.

The device greatly streamlines the process of obtaining an ECG as it avoids the need to actually come in to a clinic and can be used to monitor high risk patients from their own homes. The smartphone can then transmit the ECG to an office or a hospital where health care professionals can examine them instantly.

While this is an exciting concept, I’m not sure I would want to entrust my heart health to my phone, considering the number of times I misplace it, forget to charge it, or leave it on the back of my husband’s car before he drives off to work with it on the bumper.  I think I will leave my heart monitoring to the professionals…

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VueMe Allows Patients and Doctors Easier Access to Medical Records

June 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

MIM software, the makers of the first FDA approved radiology viewing app for physicians, Mobile MIM, just released a medical imaging app aimed directly at patients, and a new cloud service called MIMCloud 2.0, enabling medical imaging to be readily stored and shared securely via a cloud service.

VueMe, the latest offering by MIM software, allows patients to store and share their medical images on the cloud, and interfaces with the physician centered FDA approved Mobile MIM app. The app uses MIMCloud 2.0, a cloud based service that stories all the radiology images — the MIMCloud 2.0 service facilitates exchange of the images from physicians to patients, and vice versa.

Patients can use VueMe and share their images with other physicians who use the MIMCloud 2.0. Instead of a patient having to take a manilla folder or CD with radiology results — they can use a cloud service to store their images, and beam them to other specialists who might not have immediate access to their medical imaging.

Imagine how much easier this will make things for us as patients.  As a self-declared technophobe who doesn’t text and still has an “old fashioned” cell phone that is only really good for actually making phone calls, it does make me wonder if perhaps this “smart phone thingy” might be something I should consider…

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Can the FDA Keep Up with Mobile Health App Regulations?

May 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We have posted a couple of blogs regarding the FDA’s approval of mobile health applications, including the Mobile MIM and the MobiUS ultrasound imaging system.  I came across a posting in medicalsmartphones.com that poses an interesting question. “How will the FDA regulate mobile health apps?”

The author ponders such questions as “How will the FDA choose which apps to regulate?” which leads to “How will they define what a medical device is?”

Also considered are the health claims that many medical applications make.  “At what point will the FDA step in and send warning letters to app developers who are making these types of health claims?”

Technology is evolving so quickly, it makes one wonder how the FDA will be able to keep up…   As the author states,  ”By the time the FDA releases regulatory guidelines, they may be obsolete.”

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2011 Prediction – SmartPhones & Mobile Technology Used In Medicine

December 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I’m no Nostradamus, but I do have a prediction for 2011. Okay, you’ll probably read this and say “duh?”.

I predict that smartphones and mobile technology will become staples of the medical community. I predict that doctors and nurses will be using their iPhone, Android phones, etc. along with a plethora of medical-related apps to assist in practicing medicine and treating patients. I predict tools like iPads and other mobile computers will take hold in doctor offices, dental offices, hospitals, and other medical facilities across the country.

Okay, again, maybe this isn’t such a BOLD prediction. If you follow Medgadget, you read posts every week about smartphones and mobile technology being used in medicine and healthcare.

I also predict that FDA will start to weigh in pretty firmly on the use of mobile technologies in medicine.

I predict that several start-ups will launch new products embracing smartphone and mobile technology applications.

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Medical Apps Galore

December 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I subscribe to quite a few medical device-related blogs and newsletters. I’m amazed at how many articles and posts there are pertaining to medical related applications for smartphones. I decided to do a search on my Droid for “medical” apps and was amazed to see the quantity, with prices ranging from free to $59.95. I decided to downloaded a few to check out:

  • NICU Quick Drip Calculator – Appears to be an app providing drug dosages for neonates. One of the comments on the app page is concerning: “Incorrect dosage forms…dopamine, dobutamine and alprostadil are measured in mcg/kg/min, not mcg/kg/hour.”
  • Diagnosis & Therapy – Looks like a handy application for the common person to learn more about diseases, treatments, and other medical terminology. For example, I can learn more about antibiotics.
  • IV Infusion Rate Calculator – Claims this app helps the user calculate the right IV infusion rate. App has a disclaimer stating the authors make no claims of accuracy.
  • Skull – IMAGE Flashcards – Labels bones of the skull. Appears to be useful for medical students.
  • Medicinal Herbs – Provides a list of medicinal plants, herbal remedies, and natural supplements used to treat common ailments. I learned that cat’s claw  has been used for centuries in South America to prevent and treat disease.
  • Merriam-Webster Medical - A dictionary of medical terms.

I both concerned and amazed at the variety and complexity of medical-related applications available for smart phones. Many articles I’ve read have discussed the growing use of smart phones, iPads, and other computer technology within the medical profession. While I have no idea about the prevalence and use of these apps, I’m surprised FDA has been so silent on this.

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March 9, 2010 – LinkedIn Event: PRP SDC March Meeting

March 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LinkedIn Event: PRP SDC March Meeting

PRP SDC March Meeting
Tue, Mar 09
Purdue Technology Centers, West Lafayette, Merrillville, Indy, New Albany, IN, US
Keywords: software developer, programming, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Xcode, Apple
Steve Haymen from Apple will be speaking on iPhone/iPod/iPad development.

You can RSVP here on LinkedIn but please also RSVP to the appropriate person at your location.

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EMRs on Smartphones

February 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Blue Cross of Northeast PA deployed 5,000 to 10,000 smartphone apps to patients in October 2009 to help patients carry their medical history with them from doctor to doctor. Thanks to AllOne Mobile, Blue Cross was able to deploy their app to patient cell phones, making it easier for patients and doctors to maintain consistent care. Not to mention the ease of not having to remember years of medical history when in a new doctor’s office.

Of course the data stored on the phone is encrypted for security and requires a password, but how do they eliminate lag time for large amounts of data storage? Read the full article.

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FDA and the Mobile Med Device Movement

February 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

With med device application downloads to smartphones, such as iOncolex and CPR Training, and medical school PDA requirements, FDA compliance has got to be on the forefront. So will they be putting their foot down any time soon on compliance regulations of these mobile apps? And how does this affect the developers of medical devices or even the garage-developer/inventor?

According to MedGadget there are already thousands of apps that have been created for the medical device world. The dilemma on whether the FDA will begin requiring that all applications go through a clearance process is becoming an issue.

It’s important to understand what is considered a “medical device“. In mobile health technology an accessory or a component of a medical device is considered to be regulated as a medical device. Software can even be a medical device is it’s written on computer media versus printed on paper.

It’s a very interesting subject and one that you will see more of on our blog as new advances come out.

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Droid, Here I Come

January 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Which smartphone do you use? Which do you recommend and why?

I’ve been the owner of a BlackBerry Curve for the past couple of years. I really resisted getting a smartphone but am so glad I made the switch. Being able to send and receive emails without having to lug around the laptop everywhere is a nice convenience.

Lately, I’ve been considering getting a new smartphone. When I mention this to friends, several suggest the iPhone. No, for three reasons:

  1. I’ve heard many, not so glowing anecdotes. To sum it up: “Love the i. Hate the phone.” For me, the primary reason to have a smartphone is still more about the phone part.
  2. My BB has a full QWERTY keyboard–not a touch screen keyboard. I really like the real keyboard. I’ve tried the iPhone and BlackBerry Storm touchscreens and don’t like them.
  3. I’m on Verizon and have absolutely zero desire to swith to AT&T. Our home phone service is AT&T (yes, we still have a home phone) and have had terrible experiences with their “customer service”. Plus, I really like Verizon (but hate all the damned Verizon and AT&T commercials).

With these reasons, I’m able to narrow down the list to 4 options:

  • Keep the BlackBerry I have. It works fine. (Strange that I consider a new phone but will drive a car til the wheels fall off)
  • Get the HTC Droid Eris. I’m a huge user of Google applications. Using a phone with the Android OS would be very convenient.  However, the Eris has a touchscreen.
  • Ge the Motorola Droid. Again, Android OS. Droid also has a touchscreen as well as a real full keyboard.
  • Get the Google Nexus One. An actual Google phone but with a touchscreen. Also, very expensive considering I’m a Verizon user.

Here is a link to an article listing features and benefits of the iPhone, Motorola Droid, and Google Nexus One. I like a particular part of this article:

“You’re reading VentureBeat, so you’re very likely an entrepreneur, VC or bizdev professional. Get the [Motorola] Droid. You have work to do. Droid’s physical keyboard lets you type much faster than the touchscreens on the iPhone and Nexus One.”

I also recently read that Chris Brogan recently switched to the Droid. He recommends the Droid for current BlackBerry users.

I guess my choice is obvious (maybe the title gave it away). While I use Google applications on my BB, having a phone that integrates seamlessly with Google apps will be nice.

I’ll likely make the move to the Motorola Droid within the next month, unless you have compelling reasons otherwise. If you have a Droid, I’d love to hear your list of pros and cons.

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