Purpose of App Review
To detail a Skyscape add-on for cardiology professionals.
Introduction
To use ACC Pocket Guides, users must first have the Skyscape Medical Resources app. The ACC app downloads to the Skyscape environment for access and use.
The ACC (American College of Cardiology) Foundation developed this resource set. It consists of practice guidelines, tools such as the Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography (TTE/TEE) Appropriateness Criteria Tool, and other echocardiography decision support applications. ACC is meant for clinicians and for use in the clinical setting at the point of care.
It can be used as either a quick reference tool or a decision support resource for users.
The guidelines found in the app are from the American College of Cardiology, making them reputable and sufficient in regard to evidence based practice. Clinicians can feel safe knowing that the information found in the ACC app is authoritative, vetted, and accurate.
(read more)
Inder Singh, former executive VP of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, is leading a new startup called Kinsa Health. The product is an iPhone app that aims to provide users with the current “Health Weather.” Singh noticed that there is very little information available to us regarding what bugs are going around and created Kinsa to fill that space.
The entire project starts with a simple device: the Kinsa Smart Thermometer. It plugs into the headphone jack of an iPhone. The thermometer was chosen as the centerpiece of the project, because fever is often the first sign of illness.
When using the app, the patient starts with the thermometer. Even if the temperature is normal, the app can be used to track symptoms and share them with a physician. Depending on the user’s level of subscription, they can either store data on their phone or use Kinsa’s HIPAA-compliant cloud storage. (read more)
Purpose of App Review
- To review the usability and flexibility of the SafeDose Pro app for finding and tracking medication doses.
Introduction
On a daily basis I prescribe several medications for any handful of patients.
Some of the medications health care providers use are weight-based and sometimes we give one patient several medications in an effort to treat their health issues.
The SafeDose Pro app acts as a guide to calculate the appropriate dose of a medication for your patient and even helps you track when it was given.
User Interface
The first time you use the app, you will be asked to register and be given a suggestion to watch the app tutorials (on YouTube). However, you may skip this and go to the home page.
(read more)
Purpose of App Review
- How high yield are these clinical image flashcards for those learning chest radiology?
- How reliable is the information provided?
Introduction
Many physicians interpret plain film radiographs and CT scans of the chest on a regular basis to diagnose a wide variety of pulmonary and cardiac conditions. Chest Radiology Flashcards is an iOS medical app created by Hawki, Inc that contains 100 flashcards showing X-ray and CT images.
These flashcards demonstrate different types of chest pathology.
The app is directed at both radiology residents and other health professionals who are exposed to chest radiology in their practice. We recently reviewed a similar Hawki medical app focused on Neuroradiology. (read more)
SCALE HIV is an app that allows clinicians to manage virtual HIV patients and gives them access to real resources. The app was the result of collaboration between the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing, the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), and DKBmed, LLC.
It was created to enable healthcare professionals to improve their ability to identify, counsel, and refer HIV patients. SCALE HIV is available on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch platforms. (read more)
TEDMED is a multi-disciplinary community of innovators and leaders who share a common goal of creating a better future in health and medicine.
iMedicalApps was at its latest iteration. Among the many things that we saw at TEDMED 2013, one thing that really caught our eye was iBlueButton, an app and service that was on display in the exhibition area.
iBlueButton is developed by Humetrix, an Information Technology (IT) company that uses smart portable devices (USB flash drives, smart cards or smartphones), to offer patient-centered, individually controlled connectivity and interoperability solutions to the health care environment.
While at TEDMED, we had the pleasure to meet and talk with Dr. Bettina Experton, founder and CEO of Humetrix about their app.
(read more)
Purpose of App Review
- To evaluate the applicability of the PubChase app
- To evaluate the user interface of the PubChase app
Introduction
Literature review is an important part of medicine and research.
Sometimes you are not near a computer or full-feature literature/reference search application, but need to quickly browse the literature and save articles for later review. The PubChase medical literature app aims to provide a “smarter way” to search biomedical literature, with cloud storage and organization capabilities.
(read more)
Follow Iltifat Husain MD on twitter @iltifatMD
The following is our weekly list of notable iPhone & iPad medical apps released during the past week–week 16. For each app mentioned I have added my personal thoughts. One of the reasons we make this list is because many medical apps start out as free when first launched, and then developers tend to charge for them later.
The key thing to note is that these are not all of the medical apps released in the past week. Rather, these are the medical apps that stood out to me as having potential use for medical professionals and patients.
Our previous weekly lists can be found at the following links: Week 15, Week 14, Week 13, Week12,Week 11. (read more)
Purpose of App Review
- How useful is the HAE app in helping patients being treated for hereditary angioedema (HAE)?
Introduction
Hereditary angioedema is a blood disorder that results in sporadic edema of the face, extremities, airway and genitals. The HAE Therapy Tracker medical app is developed by ViroPharma Biologics for patients that are getting treated for HAE with CINRYZE®, a C1 esterase inhibitor. C1 esterase inhibitor is a protein made normally in our bodies to help us balance inflammation throughout our bodies.
In patients with HAE, this protein is deficient and CINRYZE® is a man-made replacement that is used to treat these patients. The app was created to help patients record their attacks, remind them to take their medications, as well as keep track of their doctor appointments.
(read more)
One of the tenets of modern medicine is to practice ‘shared’ decision making when deciding on the optimum treatment for our patients.
Sometimes, decisions are not always straightforward and patients require time to consider the potential risks and benefits.
The United Kingdom National Health Service has recently launched a collection of free patient decision support apps which aim to improve the doctor-patient relationship.
In order to enable patients to reach a decision in partnership with their healthcare professional, it is important that they have access to information about the different treatment options and have the opportunity to work through the information and evaluate the risks and benefits when viewed in conjunction with their personal values and preferences.
(read more)
Purpose of App Review
- How well does the ECG analysis app assist clinicians with interpreting electrocardiograms?
Introduction
Electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG) are a commonly used diagnostic test.
An ECG is used to detect abnormal heart rhythms and signs of ischemic disease like a myocardial infarction. Physicians have varying degrees of skill at ECG interpretation, depending on how much clinical experience they have.
ECG Analysis is a free medical app for iPhone and iPad that guides providers through a systematic approach to ECG interpretation.
(read more)
As paper charts and pagers slowly go the way of VCRs and record players, the way that physicians communicate and collaborate is slowly joining the 21st century too. Part of this evolution is the growth of social networks for physicians. Among them is Doximity, which goes a step beyond traditional social networks by offering features such as HIPAA-compliant communication tools, e-fax tools, and more.
Over the past few days, we had an opportunity to take an exclusive early peak at Doximity’s newly released native app for the iPad. Along with the release comes the announcement that they have now reached 160,000 users. With estimates that as many as 72% of physicians have tablets, this news is likely to catch the eye of many healthcare professionals. Here, we’ll share our preliminary impressions of the app in advance of our full review that will kick off a series on platforms and tools that enable physicians to collaborate more in richer, more efficient, and more effective ways.
Note: This is not a full app review, rather a preliminary look at the app and commentary on some of its features. Keep an eye out for our full review to come!
(read more)
The best medical apps released this past week v16
Follow Iltifat Husain MD on twitter @iltifatMD
The following is our weekly list of notable iPhone & iPad medical apps released during the past week–week 16. For each app mentioned I have added my personal thoughts. One of the reasons we make this list is because many medical apps start out as free when first launched, and then developers tend to charge for them later.
The key thing to note is that these are not all of the medical apps released in the past week. Rather, these are the medical apps that stood out to me as having potential use for medical professionals and patients.
Our previous weekly lists can be found at the following links: Week 15, Week 14, Week 13, Week12,Week 11. (read more)