ipad healthcare
Apple’s success as enterprise solution in the business world bodes well for healthcare
One of the issues we’ve discussed previously is that, when it comes to iPhone and iPad acceptance in healthcare, compatibility with the more traditional enterprise solutions could turn out to be a problem for large scale adoption of iOS 4 devices.
There was a fair amount of concern that the iPhone and iPad, as consumer electronics, would lack the necessary business-oriented features to ever be widely adopted by corporate America, let alone healthcare.
However, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal suggests that Apple may be making major inroads when it comes to adoption as a business-wide mobile solution and this time with the blessing of corporate IT.
iPad 3G Arrives: Should the Medical World Care? Yes!
When Apple’s retail stores reopened yesterday at 5pm, they had a shiny new item sitting on their shelves – the iPad 3G. At iMedicalApps, we’ve certainly been excited about the iPad, not only because its a great device that could work for clinicians, but also because it is hopefully just the leading edge of a new generation of tablets that will finally free healthcare providers from paper charts and computer stations.
For the most part, the 3G iPad is no different than the non-3G iPad in terms of hardware. So the question is, is the 3G premium worth it? With going rates of $630 for the 16GB device, up to $830GB for the 64GB device, it definitely carries a substantial premium over its non-3G sibling. In addition, the unlimited data plan from AT&T will run another $30/month. My first impression – not yet, but it will be. Here’s why.
California Hospital ordering iPads for healthcare use
One of the most important apps for healthcare providers might not be a medical app after all, rather a business app, called Citrix Receiver for iPad.  This app allows your to have secure access to virtual desktops, applications, and data – those of you who have accessed your hospitals electronic health record when off campus are using this type of software. Hospital systems can use the Citrix app to access their own servers and desktops, as shown in the above video, and display key information on their iPad.  The data can be accessed as long as you have a Wi-Fi or a 3G connection, allowing you to become mobile.
Is More Better? Lexi-Comp on the iPad – An Incredibly Comprehensive Resource [iPad Medical App Review]
Lexi, a medical information provider for 30 years, is making news by releasing an iPad-compatible version of its comprehensive drug and disease database. This is notable not only because of the depth of its databases but also because it’s beating other medical players to the iPad door – including Medscape, Epocrates and Evidence Central – all of whom have iPhone apps in the market but have not yet released iPad versions.
The evolution of mobile computing will help redefine the competitive landscape for point-of-care clinical information solutions. Lexi, a name not commonly heard among the most familiar iPhone medical information apps, has been selling its products to hospitals and physicians since 1978. A look at its website shows that it has a complex, multiple-tiered pricing structure, allowing individuals and institutions to choose which subset of its many databases they want to license. It has also made these databases available on multiple smartphone platforms. In an era where Medscape and Epocrates are offering substantial amounts of information for free, it may be understandable that many medical students and residents have not yet downloaded Lexi’s applications, although their hospital librarians may be quite familiar with them.
Security and Enterprise Features: iPhone OS 4.0 and what it means for the healthcare industry and medical users – Part 2
This is part two of a two part series focused on the iPhone 4.0 Operating System (OS) recently announced by Apple.
Enterprise and Security:
One of the key updates in iPhone OS 4.0 are related to enterprise – the Blackberry’s forte. The upgrade in enterprise will be instrumental in the iPad and iPhone platforms penetration into large health care business, such as hospitals or hospital systems. Here, the new features are aimed at pleasing the healthcare IT department by simplifying mass iPhone/iPad deployment and enhancing data security and Microsoft Exchange integration.
iPad App Store needs to mature before medical community can adopt the iPad for healthcare use
If you dream of pulling out your shiny iPad from your white coat to look up medical information via an app, similar to what you do on your iPhone, you might think: surely, my iPhone medical apps must look better on my iPad. You should know the following before entertaining those thoughts.
Will the iPad fit in your white coat? check. Is the iPad fast enough for this type of healthcare point of care use? check. Will your iPhone medical apps run on the iPad? Check. Do the iPhone medical apps you have translate their user experience over to the iPad? Not really.
In our recent hands on review of the iPad, we were definitely excited with the iPad’s potential, especially for the medical community. With that said, there have been two huge disappointments with the device.
iPad hands on review: Fits in your white coat and is fast enough for Medical point of care use [Healthcare Perspective]
The iPad has finally been released and we’ve got our hands on one so we can provide the medical community a healthcare perspective of the device. I’ve been using the iPad for the last two days, and these are the initial impressions.
Fits in your white Coat:
The iPad should fit comfortably your white coat. If you continue on to the rest of the review you’ll see pictures of the iPad easily settling into my white coat, along with my stethoscope. Granted, my white coat has been thoroughly stretched out with mini medical reference books, papers, and medical devices, but even with a fresh white coat, you shouldn’t have problems tucking away your iPad.
For the iPad to be seriously used in the medical setting, this type of convenience is key. I can’t imagine carrying it around while I juggle patient notes and other necessities.
The iPad feels heavy in your hands(1.5 pounds), but is thin, measuring half an inch in depth. The ends of the iPad are tapered, making it feel significantly thinner. The heavy feel is almost welcome and assuring, it makes the iPad feel strong – making you feel like a drop, with a case on it, wouldn’t break it. This type of build quality is expected from an Apple device.
iPad customized medical apps already in the Apple App Store
Developers for some of our favorite medical apps have been working at a fever pitch to have their apps utilize the extra functionality and screen space offered by the iPad. Just to be clear, all your iPhone medical apps will run on your iPad. But, some developers have made “iPad versions” of their medical apps. The following are some of our favorite medical apps that have done this conversion, and screenshots of how they have utilized the extra space and features afforded by the iPad.
