Last week we published how the Federal Government had launched a radiation exposure app, mFRAT for first responders. This week we wanted to take an in-depth look at the medical app with a full review.

The “Sum of All Fears” is a best-selling novel by author Tom Clancy which describes a terrorist plot to detonate a nuclear bomb during the Super Bowl in a major US city. Thankfully, it remains a work of fiction. Throughout the Nuclear Age, medical providers have been confronted with the arduous task of evaluating and treating radiation casualties. From the devastation of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to Three Mile Island, to Chernobyl and most recently the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, providers’ skills in treating the devastating effects of radiation exposure have been put to the test. The US military has an entire institute devoted to furthering research in the field called the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) in Bethesda, MD. They recently converted their existing online Windows program into a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.

Clinical Scenario

Let’s walk through the medical app via a clinical case: you are working in the ER when a local nuclear power plant suffers a meltdown and you receive multiple radiation casualties including a patient presenting with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headache 2 hours after exposure along with a lymphocyte count of 2.5 x 109/L. What is this patient’s predicted outcome?

Video Review

Evidence based medicine

The radiation exposure medical app is based on the work of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) located on the campus of the Uniformed Service University and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. The medical app contains numerous references from the primary literature as well as expert recommendations from the AFRRI which has been in continuous operation since 1962.

What providers would benefit from this Medical App?

First responders, Emergency Medicine providers, military providers and any other provider who may encounter/treat radiation casualties.

mFRAT

Price: Free

iOS: iTunes
Android: Google Play

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

  • Price
    • Free
    • Takes existing online tool and makes it available at the point of care.
    • Easy to use and interpret data with detailed instructions and definitions.
    • Outstanding included pocket-guide provides overview of radiation exposure basics.
    • Available for Android.
  • Dislikes
    • No ability to print or email results of app assessments.
    • Information in Pocket Guide is useful but very abbreviated.
    • Tables and graphs do not rotate for landscape view.
  • Overall

    The mFRAT app is nice addition to the App Store, especially for first responders, emergency room physicians, and any provider in the military who may have to respond to a nuclear/radiation casualty. The medical app contains a helpful triage and assessment algorithm and mini-pocket guide to radiation casualties.

  • Overall Score
  • User Interface

    Quick, easy to complete patient assessment and easy to add another triage patient, update data.

  • Multimedia Usage

    App contains several nice charts and tables as well as references–though none are hyperlinked.

  • Price

    A great resource for free.

  • Real World Applicability

    Clearly a necessary app for the Nuclear Age especially in light of recent nuclear accidents and terrorist threats. However, most providers would likely not have a use for this app and those that may hopefully never will have to open it.

  • Device Used For Review

    iPhone 6S running iOS 9.3.2

  • Available for DownloadAndroidiPhoneiPad