We live in an age in which there is an app for almost everything. So it should come as no surprise that there are apps centered around healthcare concerns that help patients and doctors in their quest for improved treatments and lower costs. Here are some apps you may find interesting for your practice and/or for sharing with your patients.
WebMD Health Tools. This app has a symptom checker as well as information about medical conditions, medicines, tests, and procedures. It also allows an individual to search for a physician, a hospital, or a pharmacy nearby, which proves helpful when traveling. It also includes a first-aid section and a direct link to call 911 in emergencies.
iTriage. This app helps you find providers, urgent care, and hospitals in your location, and includes directions and phone numbers. It has an extensive collection of information about medications: it lists side effects, how to deal with a missed dosage, and other usage instructions. When you install this application, it prompts you to set up an account with your medical and insurance information (although this is not a requirement for usage). iTriage also includes advice and articles on how to save money on healthcare costs.
Epocrates. This app is made for doctors. You can look up drug information and interactions, find providers for referrals and consults, and calculate patient measurements. Most of its content is free; however, additional services and information—such as alternative medications, disease information, and lab guides—require an upgrade within the app to Epocrates Essentials ($159.99/year).
UpToDate. This popular app for clinicians answers clinical questions at the point of need. It is free to download, but you need to pay an individual physician subscription fee (~$499/year) for access to its extensive database.
Doximity. This social network for doctors claims that 40% of all US physicians are members. The app is free and allows you to communicate on the go. You can locate other doctors, communicate with them, send HIPAA-secure faxes from your phone, and check for news or trends in your area of practice.
So, now that you’ve seen some of the options out there, which ones will you try out? How can you use these tools to improve and develop your practice?
