Dr. Richard Watson shows Gustavo Pinor
an X-ray of his sprained ankle on an iPad.
Posted on 10/19/2010 1:06:55 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Emergency room doctors are using them to order lab tests and medication. Plastic surgeons are using them to show patients what they might look like after surgery. And medical residents are using them as a quick reference to look up drug interactions and medical conditions.
Since Apple's iPad hit the market in April, doctors at Chicago area hospitals are increasingly using the hot-selling tablet as a clinical tool.
Not only does the iPad allow doctors to view electronic medical records, wherever they are, it also gives them a way to show patients their X-rays, EKGs and other lab tests on an easy-to-read screen. Plus, it's lighter and has a longer battery life than many laptops, making it convenient for doctors to take on rounds.
Within the next month, the University of Chicago Medical Center plans to provide iPads to all of its internal medicine residents, expanding on a pilot program launched earlier this year. Similarly, Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood has given iPads to all of its orthopedic residents as part of a pilot program.
Other doctors are buying their own iPads and using them to interact with patients. At U. of C., for instance, plastic surgeon Dr. Julie Parker uses her iPad to show breast-cancer patients what they might look like after reconstructive surgery.
"The touch screen is intuitive and gives a hands-on experience for patients as they navigate through the pictures," Parker said.
Pulmonary specialists at the hospital also use iPads to explain lung disease to their patients.
Another hospital that has embraced the iPad is MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island. Once doctors there learned that they could access the hospital's electronic medical records with the iPad, "it went through here like wildfire," said Dr. Richard Watson, an emergency room physician at MetroSouth. "At least half of our staff here in the emergency room has their own iPad and carries it and uses it."
Last week, Watson used his iPad to show 14-year-old Gustavo Pintor an X-ray of his sprained right ankle. "It was cool to see," said the teen, who'd gotten hurt at soccer practice. "I feel like I understand what happened now."
Though the iPad provides a portal to the hospital's electronic record, patient information isn't actually stored on the device. And both the iPad and the hospital server are password-protected, lowering the chances that sensitive data could be swiped from a lost or stolen iPad.
Dr. Eric Nussbaum, MetroSouth's emergency room chief, said the iPad also solves one of the problems created by switching from a paper-based record system to an electronic one: having to go to a desktop computer to order lab tests or type in notes on a patient.
"With this, I'm back to the convenience of being in the patient's room, talking to them and plugging in my orders right then and there," he said.
I’m quite impressed that the MSM is still on top of things, and the doctor pictured in the story is as required by the Official Handbook of American Journalism a member of a protected, saintly, if still oppressed, ethnic minority, as is the patient, for additional political correctness points. Take it, you RACIST crackers!
One issue that nobody has addressed is certification as a medical device. There are very strict regulations regarding the specs for medical imaging monitors. You could show copies of the films to patients but you had better still have the $17,000 monitors or you will not pass certification inspections.
Same thing in the OR, Those monitors and devices all have to be certified and insured.
During my last physical my doctor had two medical students following him and I gladly agreed to have them participate. When I had some questions about my medications, they both whipped out an I-touch and immediately had the information. I have been kidding my doctor about when he would be getting his own I-touch.
I can’t wait to get mine! My husband just ordered one for me, it will be here on Thursday. I am hoping it will replace just about everything I use to keep myself together. LOL.
Since AutoDesk just released AutoCad WS app for the iPhone/iPad, I had a friend, a mechanical designer, go out and buy one. Take your blueprints with you to a job site, show to customer and workmen, and or make edits as needed.
I don't think they have an app for that, yet.
Then why bother with the negative comments then? Why not just move on?
Then why bother with the negative comments then? Why not just move on?
you can’t have battery life and flash.
Since all the data would be on the hospital server, all that would be needed is any spare iPad.
“Liberated” my @rse. I’m keeping it hostage.
How do they address HIPAA issues?
Hoarders lol
The medical information access software that I have been looking at for the iPad or iPhone that accesses any patient records blanks the screen after a set amount of time and requires a user password to re-access the data again. . . the same as most HIPAA compliant desktop and notebook computers. Data itself is never stored on the iPad or iPhone. . . it remains on the server and is sent encrypted.
Frankly I'm not too worried about it. There are six HIPAA inspectors in California and five of them are in Southern California and all of them get three furlough days a month. The odds of them ever walking in and inspecting any particular medical office are astronomical.
I heard from a student in pharmacy school that they were required to have an iPod Touch or an iPhone. That’s how they were distributing the PDR and course materials.
Sorry Mr Heart-Attack-just-run-over-by-a-truck, my Windows tablet/laptop has a virus, but it’s still under warranty, do you mind waiting?
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