Our friends over at NursingSchools.net sent over a great article about the top 10 trends in mobile medicine. I’ve posted the first five head on over to their website for the rest. (NursingSchools.net)
- Using cell phones to detect airborne toxins: Cell phones are everywhere these days, and I do mean everywhere: There are 4.6 billion of them in the world as of February 2010. Because of that, some scientists want to use a chip that can be embedded in cell phones to detect any dangerous chemicals that might be in the air, which would subsequently help them map their source and cause. The sensors are made of silicon and change color when they’re exposed to certain chemicals, in effect giving your cell phone a high-tech nose. It’s a brilliant way to harness an existing network for medical gain.
- Pay with your phone: Identity fraud is more prevalent than ever in a digital age, but some researchers are looking for ways to buck that by letting people make payments for goods and services — including medical treatments — with their cell phones. Some computer networks aren’t safe, and paper cheques remain easy to forge, but payment via cell phone would allow you to visit your doctor and make a payment using a highly encrypted program that safely stores and transmits your data without letting a third party interfere. The system creates a unique code for each transaction that the payer and payee verify, and a match means the transaction is protected. This can greatly reduce paperwork for medical payments and also speed up visits to the doctor’s office.
- Medical records on cell phones: Advances in phone technology have drastically changed the way we communicate on the go, but while most people think of smartphones primarily as ways to send text and video messages, medical professionals are using them to get a look at your health records. Using phones to download, transmit, and organize medical records can greatly reduce clerical errors and make it easier for doctors to learn your medical history quickly and easily.
- Using cell phones to monitor physical activity: Obesity is a terrible problem in the United States, thanks to entrenched methods of poor eating and low exercise. Weight issues lead to heart disease, diabetes, and hosts of other problems that are best fought by starting early and attacking the source. However, some medical professionals are working on ways to let people use their cell phones to monitor physical activity and weight loss. The Walk n’Play iPhone app makes a game of basic movement, providing a score and statistics for users based on how often they walk around while carrying their phones. It’s a smart way to encourage incremental but noticeable changes in the habits of someone with a weight problem: Instead of forcing them to suddenly begin a grueling exercise routine, they’re eased into it by earning points for being more active in general.
- Using tablet computers: Contrary to popular belief, the iPad isn’t the only tablet on the market. Smaller computers designed for getting work done without being tethered to a desk have been gaining traction for years, and the Motion C5v is the latest example. Tablet PCs can be tailored to meet a number of specific but vital needs for medical pros, whether it’s taking pictures of a patient or scanning the barcode on their bracelet to access their health information. Medical-oriented tablets are also designed to be used in high-impact situations that doctors deal with on a daily basis, which makes them sturdier than traditional laptops and far easier to tote around. Tablets aren’t the future of medicine; they’re the present.
