Physicians are leading users of mobile technology

Despite attempts by some to portray physicians as luddites unwilling to use IT in the practice of medicine, a recent survey by QuantiaMD offers some hard data to refute this belief. QuanitaMD is an online physician-to-physician learning collaborative where, according to the company, 1 in 6 U.S. physicians engage, share, and learn from experts and each other.

According to the recently conducted QuantiaMD survey, more than 80% of physicians responding to the survey indicated that they own a mobile device that is capable of downloading applications (including but not limited to smartphones and tablets). This level of adoption is higher than the general population and demonstrates, in my view, a clear physician willingness to use technology when it fits into their workflow (which is highly mobile). Interesting findings from the survey include:

• 44% of physicians who do not yet have a mobile device intend to purchase one in 2011.
• 30% of physicians surveyed indicated that they use a tablet device. Interestingly, 2/3′s of these tablet users employ their tablet in a clinical setting.
• Despite claims that younger doctors are more apt to embrace new technologies than older physicians, the QuanitaMD study shows that interest in tablets holds steady across years of practice and is, according to the survey report, “as high for physicians with 30 years or more of practice as it is for those with 10 years or less”.
• Approximately 2/3′s of survey respondent state they are likely to select an Apple product. 60% of smartphone users indicate that they have an iPhone while nearly all tablet users have an iPad.

How do physician want to use their mobile? According to the QuanitaMD survey, their top interest is access to EMR data. Other desired uses devices for “peer to peer activities” include receiving treatment protocols alerts, and sharing and discussing cases with other physicians. Desired activities that involve patients include e-prescribing, sharing patient education materials, and receiving alerts when patients need follow-up treatment.

A close to home example of how mobile technology can be used for patient care is the Ottawa Hospital’s massive rollout of iPads and other Apple mobile devices. According to recent articles and anecdotal feedback from sources at the Ottawa Hospitals, the clinical community is enthusiastically embracing these new devices.

Mike

The EMR/EHR Application Store

Mark and I have watched Apple and other mobile vendors create and support developer ecosystems with open APIs (application program interfaces) and application stores and have mused that a similar approach would be of considerable benefit in the health sector.  Well, it seems that Allscripts listened to us! Well, OK, they probably don’t know who we are but, watching the mobile application market, reached a similar conclusion.

According to information posted on the Allscripts web site, the Allscripts Developer Program (ADP) will “provide registered, approved members of our Allscripts Developer Program software development kits to enable clients and third parties to natively write applications on the Helios by Allscripts™ platform and integrate with other Allscripts applications.“  Helios is “an industry-defining open architecture platform that is designed to allow healthcare organizations to utilize best-of-breed applications in an integrated environment with Sunrise enterprise solutions.“

Rather than depend on its own R&D team to conceive and develop every possible application that their clients might need, Allscripts will leverage the resources (both financial and human) of its partners to accelerate innovation and better serve its clients.  Mark and I believe that a similar approach could accelerate “meaningful use” of EMRs by Canadian physicians by encouraging the development of new and interesting applications that make creative use of data stored in an EMR.

Mike

Consider HTML5 for Your Mobile Applications

I am a client of Appletree Medical Group in Ottawa.   They are an innovative company that continually pushes the boundaries of service and technology.  Appletree developed its own EMR and is continually refining the product using their own medical practice has a proving ground.  They have also  introduced a variety of on-line services including a wait list application that allows patients to check the current wait times in Appletree’s many walk-in clinic facilities.

Recently, Appletree announced an iPhone application that offers many of the same services as their online presence.  Fortunately, I am an iPhone user, so the app is of use to me .  What about those people with a Android phone or a Blackberry? What happens when Microsoft Phone 7 becomes more popular?  This dilemma is faced by any healthcare organization considering a mobile application.  Which platform(s) should they support?

Rather than develop for a specific mobile platform, I have been pushing my clients to consider HTML5 as an alternative.  HTML5 offers many of the same benefits as a mobile application written for a specific platform without having to commit to a specific platform. Unlike earlier versions of HTML, HTML5 allows developers to write applications that reside on a mobile device and that can store data locally on that device.

In a recent blog post, Richard MacManus predicts that “In 2011, this technology will probably go mainstream as full browser support becomes available in about the middle of the year.”   With support from companies such as Google, RIM, and Apple, I share Mr. MacManus’ enthusiasm and encourage anyone considering a mobile application to check it out.

Mike

The Appletree WAIT TIMER iPhone App Now Available – Free Download

Thank you for your interest in using our upcoming Appletree SmartChart  – a safe and secure way for you to update and access your health records and related appointment information from anywhere, at any time.

We are excited to report that the number of patients who requested SmartChart was much higher than we originally anticipated. We wanted you to be the first to know that we are in the final stages of releasing the full online SmartChart system.

SmartChart will have several components that will allow you to adapt the way you interact with our system to match your medical and lifestyle needs. In approximately 6-8 weeks, you will receive an email with information on how to sign up and how to make the best use of this tool to take better control over your health care.

Meanwhile, the first mobile component of SmartChart was just released and we want you to be the first to try it!

We are thrilled to announce that the Appletree WAIT TIMER iPhone App is now available to download for free. It is designed to provide direct access to our WAIT TIMER tool, city-wide locations and directions. Others coming soon for Blackberry and Android smart phones!

This enables your mobile phone to become one of your mobile access points to our other online patient services as they are released.

When you need to see a doctor, you can now check our wait times from anywhere with your iPhone.

Take a moment now to download the Appletree WAIT TIMER iPhone App by searching for “Appletree Medical Group” in your iPhone App store or by clicking on the link below:

Richard MacManus

Reflections on the iPad

I have been eagerly following the discussion leading up to and following the iPad annoucement.  I have envisioned just such a device since held my first iPOD Touch (since replaced by an iPhone).  At the time I thought “great device but Iwish that it had a larger screen”.

I think that the iPad is a new category of device meant for people who already have a computer (either desktop or laptop) and a mobile device (smartphone or otherwise) and is looking for a lightweight device for basic functions (email, web browsing, light work processing). The iPad will be what netbook tried to be … an inexpensive, lightweight, light duty computer. It will NOT replace either an iPhone or a laptop and, hence, doesn’t need some of the same functionality.

My plan is to buy a Wi-Fi only iPad and tether to my iPhone when not in Wi-Fi range. I think that Apple will need to think about better integration between iPhone and iPad. I will always carry my iPhone but won’t always take my iPad. Hence, some means of easily sharing data and connections is required.

Mike

Apple’s iSlate – I can’t wait!

The speculation has been building for months about Apple’s impending announcement of a new tablet computer.  Well, the day has arrived when we are expected to hear all the juicy details.   How Apple can generate such free media attention is absolutely astounding!

Ever since I got my iPod Touch (since replaced by my iPhone), I have longed for a larger form factor iPod Touch like device.  The power and simplicity of the iPhone OS and multitouch simply blew me away.  Unless there is something about the new device that really turns me off, you can expect that I’ll be in line to buy one of the new devices.

What does my personal desire for an iSlate have to do with eHealth?  I believe that Apple is going to create a new class of mobile devices that will do well in the health sector.  Given the inherent mobility of most healthcare professionals, I think that this new class of mobile device with its larger screen and light weight will be better suited for many healthcare applications than either a smartphone or a laptop.

I’ll be watching the blogosphere for any and all information related to Apple’s announcement today.   Geez, guess I have turned into a Jobs fan boy

Mike

Apple targeting healthcare with new “iSlate”

I have been following the Apple “iSlate” rumours with considerable interest.  Ever since I received my first iPod Touch (since replaced with an iPhone) a little over a year ago, I have longed for a similar device with a larger screen.  A long time laptop user (got my first one in 1989), I have always wanted a device about the size of a piece of paper and the thickness of magazine.  Well, it seems that the day is soon going to arrive.

Interestingly, the first users of the new “iSlate” are likely physicians.  According to a FierceMobileHhealthcare article:

http://www.fiercemobilehealthcare.com/story/apple-said-be-targeting-hospitals-mac-tablet/2010-01-12#ixzz0cUuYsWuo

Apple has been sending prototypes to doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.  Given the strong appeal of the iPhone among physicians and the similarity in form factor to the tradition medical chart, the choice of healthcare as a target market for this new device isn’t surprising.

I think that the new category of “slate” computers (I use this term to distinguish them from the tablet computers already on the market) will be a huge hit.  The Apple iPhone / iPod Touch has demonstrated market interest in a lightweight,  touchscreen Internet device.  The major limitation of this device, in my view, is screen size and the new “slate” category will address this weakness.

Mike

Mobile eHealth applications

As Mark can readily attest, I have been a vocal proponent of what I refer to as “Personal eHealth” applications.  Since there is no more personal IT device than a mobile phone, I was intrigued to find that there many eHealth applications on the Apple App Store.  Check out:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Health-Care-IT/10-MustSee-iPhone-Apps-for-Doctors-and-Patients-566456/?kc=EWKNLEDP07062009A

Mark, what do you think of the $139 EMR application for physicians?

Mike

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