Healthcare App Challenge Focuses on Patient Safety

by Holly Shoemaker

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, recently announced a new app challenge that focuses on patient safety and reporting.

                                               

The challenge came about from a 2011 report that asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate health and safety privacy concerns. The IOM concluded that accurate reporting of data depends on a number of factors such as the users, doctors, vendors and any other entity involved in reporting. The IOM recommended increased monitoring of IT health products and clearer reporting guidelines.

Concluding Thoughts

Reporting and privacy concerns continue to remain an issue as hospitals and doctors' offices transition from paper-based records to electronic ones. No standard format or platform exits to report patient information.

As I have mentioned before, app challenges offer ways for developers to get their ideas known. However, when it comes to medical apps, a more stringent development and testing process is typically needed, especially when dealing with privacy concerns. While the contest addresses a need, the reward may not be worth the cost to develop, test and market. Therefore, the developer who wins the contest will likely have a long lifecyle before the app goes live.

Should Insurance Companies Promote Medical Apps?

by Holly Shoemaker

I used to get notifications in the mail and phone calls from my health insurance provider asking me if I wanted to schedule meetings with nurses to discuss my overall health and wellness. I declined this service as I believe they wanted to discuss having asthma. Well, my asthma is well controlled and I only rely on a rescue inhaler when needed or prior to exercise involving cardio. I know my triggers so that is not a problem that I really spend much time thinking about. I felt the company tried to dig around for more information – it made me uncomfortable. I would also contact my allergist with any problems, not someone who does not know me.

As I reflect on that, I realize that perhaps insurance carriers will start recommending that patients track their medical progress via a mobile medical app. After all, insurance providers will engage in wellness policies or other practices as ways to help them reduce costs. Perhaps telling patients about certain medical apps could provide another way of doing so.

Concluding Thoughts

I do not think any insurance provider may mandate what apps people use for their own health purposes. That also brings up a host of privacy concerns. Patients have to sign consents allowing medical professionals to release any medical records. I cannot say for sure if carriers will endorse apps, but I do not negate the idea either. My concern would always remain for the privacy of patients.

Do Hospitals Stifle the Ability to Use Smartphones and Medical Apps?

by Holly Shoemaker

The answer to this headline will likely vary depending on who you ask. There are a number of factors to take into consideration. Many hospitals have already spent their budgets on developing computer-based record systems. That may leave them little room to take into consideration how budget constraints affect the technology needs of physicians affiliated with their hospitals. Many physicians, especially those not tied to working from one place, have increasingly relied on smartphones to provide patient updates. However, that has created additional questions – What smartphones do physicians and hospitals want? Will hospitals agree to provide smartphones over pagers?

Some of the answers to the above questions rely on looking at available surveys and other data regarding smartphone use by physicians. About 40 percent of ER physicians rely on some type of digital technology to assist them. However, doctors cannot agree on a phone preference – most surveyed use iPhones and then BlackBerrys. These two phones typically gain most mentions in reports. These preferences will continue to change overtime as we see more phones and tablets developed.

Concluding Thoughts

Hospitals will need to delegate more time in working with IT professionals to see how different types of smartphones may connect with electronic records and other clinical applications. Hospitals will also have to keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking to regulate medical mobile apps used as devices. They will also have to take into consideration the preferences of their affiliated physicians. As doctors continue to spend less time making rounds, they will need reliable solutions that enable them to care for patients remotely.

American Medical Association Offers Insightful Information Regarding Mobile Apps

by Holly Shoemaker

In a previous blog found at http://myuniversalapps.blogspot.com/2011/11/mobile-app-releases-help-apps-remain-in.html, I discussed how corporations sponsor app contests for students and developers. That prompted me to wonder how the American Medical Association (AMA) views mobile medical applications. I found that the association sponsored an app idea contest for medical students, residents and physicians.

The AMA’s goals in sponsoring a contest of course are different from large corporations. The AMA’s mission is based on how medicine, both as an art and science, promote improving public health. That means that the AMA also follows trends in the medical app market. App developers could benefit from following updates from the AMA regarding how physicians and other medical professionals view the need for better mobile health solutions.

Concluding Thoughts

Looking into the contest sponsored by the AMA validated some of my previous analysis and my first-hand observations regarding patient care in hospitals. Contests still remain a good way to generate ideas and they also show developers where they could focus their efforts. In addition, the AMA’s focus on doctor-patient relationships, and public health issues, makes the association a good source of information. Developers may find that AMA resources help them with their current ideas and future ones.

Five Ways to Ensure Medical Apps Are Accurate and Reliable

by Holly Shoemaker

When designing apps for the medical industry, accuracy and reliability rank as some of the most important factors for users. Physicians, nurses and other medical professionals will want to use medical mobile apps that have accurate and up-to-date information.

There are some steps that developers should follow to ensure that their medical apps meet the needed standards. Those include:

• Working with subject matter experts to ensure that apps provide accurate and timely information.
• Asking questions so developers know exactly how medical professionals will use the apps.
• Testing apps to ensure they work according to the needed standards.
• Making changes based on user-acceptance testing prior to releasing apps to the iPhone and/or Android markets.
• Scheduling release updates to keep apps relevant and incorporating any additional information that will help medical professionals diagnose, treat or communicate with patients. I wrote about the importance of using release updates to keep apps relevant in a previous blog. Readers may find that blog at: http://myuniversalapps.blogspot.com/2011/11/mobile-app-releases-help-apps-remain-in.html.

Concluding Thoughts

Just like patients hold their doctors and other medical professionals to high standards, those in the medical field will hold apps to the same ones. If I saw a doctor using a mobile app to assist in a diagnosis or treatment plan, I would ask questions regarding the validity of the app. Developers will need to keep the above tips in mind when developing mobile medical apps.