Apple’s iPad And What It Is Doing For Healthcare

A report by Healthcare Technology Online in February this year said that iPad is an affordable tablet for point of care applications. And since it has a wider screen, it is more suitable in patient records and medical images than other smartphones, on which most of the doctors worldwide have been relying. The Wi-Fi/3G connectivity in iPad also helps doctors to stay connected to healthcare applications viz. electronic medical record and practice management software. Dr. Edward Bender, A computer programmer and heart surgeon in Cape Girardeau, USA has developed an iPad app that will help doctors and patients predict the risks of heart surgery. For your reference, this report has ten ways of how iPad has changed the healthcare. There is also news doing the rounds stating that an Israel hospital employs Apple’s iPad to help medical staff treat patients, consult them and study diagnostic reports such as X-rays and CT scans remotely. The Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Centre has claimed itself to be the first hospital to have programmed Apple’s iPad with Chameleon, a software from Microsoft, which is used by many hospitals. The hospital has done this in collaboration with a third party technology company. An elated CEO of the hospital, Dr Yoram Liwer told Reuters, “ We now have the same program and the same database for treatment in the hospital on the iPad,” . He also added, “ The patients” data are in the computer, so physicians who are out of hospital but on call can see X-rays and ultrasounds through their iPad and give more intelligent advice to staff in the hospital.” For instance, iPad allows doctors to offer advice based on the diagnostic reports received through it. Apart from that it also allows them to see the results after a particular surgery has been completed. Unlike other devices, the high resolution of iPad allows doctors to have a better view of the X-rays and other analysis. Dr. Liwer is of the opinion that People like to carry it with them wherever they go. They don’t take a laptop but the iPad is with them all the time so we get better and more intelligent consulting. If the report entitled, “Global Mobile Health Market Report 2010-2015” by research2guidance are to be believed, the mobile healthcare market is all set to change with the emergence of smart devices like Apple’s iPad, iPhone and others. About 43% of the total available applications have been designed for health professionals. Number wise, there are about 17,000 mobile healthcare apps across various stores. And Apple’s app store has more number of mobile healthcare apps than others. So, it should not be quite surprising to learn that the Israeli hospital or the US doctor is using iPad beneficially. Other hospitals or doctors should definitely follow suit – if not with the iPad, at least with plenty of other tablets . While India’s Medical Technology and Expertise is praised on one hand, there are no signs of its usage in several government/local hospitals. How long before we see cutting edge technology there? What do you think? REGISTER FOR WATSUMMIT – INDIA’S FLAGSHIP SUMMIT ON DIGITAL MEDIA REGISTER NOW! Related Posts Apple’s Much Awaited iOS 4.2 Update Google Looking At India, China For Android Growth Smartphones Are Not Used Smartly Enough? Do Mobile Apps Compromise Your Privacy? Gmail Mobile In Hindi And Teach Parents Tech – Google’s Holiday Tips and Tricks?

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