iPhone in medicine
With the SDK released to developers recently, Apple has allowed third party native applications on the iPhone which has one of the most beautiful and best interfaces a mobile phone has ever seen. When iPhone was first released, many doctors expressed a reluctance to switch from their Palm or PocketPC. It doesnt run Epocrates natively. An online version wouldn’t work; what if the hospital did not have Wifi?
Now, these worries are over. Epocrates are close to finishing developing the app for iPhone. And many more medical applications will be released for iPhone 2.0. Some of them are featured below:
From Modality Learning: Netter’s Anatomy
Using outstanding anatomical illustrations from Netter’s hugely popular Atlas of Human Anatomy (4th Edition), Netter’s Anatomy allows you to carry the bestselling reference for human anatomy on your iPhone or iPod touch. Navigate through images with the flick of a finger, pinch to zoom, and tap to test your knowledge of muscles, bones, vessels, viscera and the joints. Use study mode to explore images at your own pace and quiz mode to test yourself on what you know.
Modality Learning also has numerous flash cards applications for iPhone and iPod Touch, including: Board Review Series Flash Cards (Anatomy, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Pathology), ECG made easy study cards, Surgical Recall, Medicine Recall, Paediatrics Recall and USMLE Step 1 Recall. This is extremely promising and certainly a good way to rid off those cards bound by a ring, and certainly something more productive than playing games on the iPhone or surfing the net whilst on the bus or something.
MIMVista will be releasing the MIM iPhone Application which will “provide multi-planar reconstruction of data sets from modalities including CT, PET, MRI and SPECT, as well as multi-modality image fusion. Using the multi-touch interface, users can change image sets and planes; adjust zoom, fusion blending, and window/level; and measure dimensions and SUV.” They have different applications for various uses: Radiation Oncology, Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroimaging, and Cardiac Imaging. Visit the links for more information. This is promising.
Radiology and Nuclear Medicine: MIMVista provides medical imaging for iPhone!
You can see CTs on the iPhone, and do measurements. To get rid of the measurements, shake the iPhone. You can even view PET scans. Cool huh? Available from HeartIT Imaging Technologies.
Epocrates
Our free, continuously updated reference includes information on more than 3,300 brand name and generic drugs including:
- Drug Dosing
- Drug Interactions
- Retail Pricing
- Safety/Monitoring
- Adverse Reactions
This widely popular application already has an online version which when WIFI is available, can be used on the iPhone. Reports are that a native app is on the way:
So be patient and the iPhone promises to be the best patient education tool and professional gadget you can have as a medical professional. Here’s an update on how Epocrates has progressed in their development of a native app for iPhone:
The future is promising and my vision for how iPhone will be utilised in the hospital in the future is that every doctor will have one. They will be able to chart patient notes using iPhone and it gets uploaded into a central system immediately. Drugs can be prescribed and the software will pop up showing contraindications (with help from Epocrates), safety dosages, adverse reactions, etc. Then, it will be displayed on a small screen beside each bed and the nurse can sign off when these drugs are administered. CTs or MRIs can be viewed using a program that works similar to the current medical software the hospital computers run on. But imagine doing it on the iPhone on the go as you walk and talk. Sms or mail the CT to a colleague for a second opinion using the iPhone immediately. Other investigations like bloods can be viewed from a patient list on your iPhone right away. And you use the Netter’s pictures to explain procedures and disease processes with vividness and clarity on your iPhone. How awesome will that be?
That is my dream for healthcare 2.0
3 years ago when I bought an expensive newly released nokia cellphone I thought to my self that it would be the last phone Ill buy unless it breaks or something. Until, I saw the iPhone! It was really tempting but I am still resisting. Lately one of my senior friends showed me all the cool and helpful medical stuff that he can do with his new i-mate and he said that I should buy one before my rotations. So now I am not sure what I should do, buy a pocket PC or an iPhone????! or should I just forget it because they are all a waste of money?
i think u shd definitely get an iphone when the new one comes out on 11 july. its unparalleled in its visual display and functions, and the best thing is its software are limitless now that so many companies are given the SDK to develop native software. it can only get better and nokia and other companies are really finding it hard to get a response!
How about pocket PCs and Imates?
Yea you could get them but they are really ugly and the user interface is appalling. the search function is slow and its a chore to zoom (how many buttons or times do you have to click before being allowed to zoom in).
it just doesnt make sense.
How can i get this this Programs ??
I think we will be seeing lots of healthcare and medical-related applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch real soon. I started a blog Healthcare iPod to keep track as they become available.
mark, these programs will be available in the AppStore when its officially open (i think that’ll be 11 July) when 3G iPhone comes out.
Brent, great site. its no surprise why people are drawn to the beautiful interface the iPhone can provide
this is very helpful!
I got the Netter’s Anatomy Flash Cards for my iPod Touch some weeks ago. I use anatomic atlases a lot when going through recorded video footage, to pin down anatomical landmarks in an operation. This is so much easier than dragging a large volume off the shelf!
technology is just getting bigger and bigger!!
Instant ECG is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Learn to interpret electrocardiograms on the iPhone or just use it as a reference. This App was designed for physicians, nurses, medical students and paramedics.
Instant ECG – http://www.IntstantECG.org
iTunes – http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=301270080&mt=8
I’ve tried out another ECG program for the iPod/iPhone called the ECG Guide (http://www.theECGguide.com. It’s simple, inexpensive and quite exhaustive in covering ECG interpretation and diagnosis. I’d recommend giving it a try. Can be downloaded from iTunes directly.
Hey, the above url point to The ECG Guide doesn’t work – try this link to visit the ECG Guide
Hey, the above url pointing to The ECG Guide doesn’t work – try this link to visit the ECG Guide
I’m just starting medical school and all these apps are going to be incredibly useful.
Its very handy post , thanks alot i mention you in my article about iPhone in Medicine .
@hamza: thanks. your new post sums it up very well. heaps better
thanks for dropping by
nice topic, i like your posting very much,may we can share each other i just wanna say gretzzz
Well with the HTC Touch HD, the larger and higher resolution screen will be better suited than the iPhone, along with wm6.5 added it’s real joy to work and now a few of my iphone toting friends are wanting my Touch HD.
I think people need to get off of the iphone now, with the Palm Pre coming out and phones like the Touch HD and with blackberry outselling them I’m sure it’s started already. But it’s shiny.
Do you do all your own writing? Or do you outsource some of it? I’m looking for some similar content for my blog! These are great posts!