Research by Accenture estimates the U.S. can save more than $23 billion– translating to $2,000 to $3,000 per patient –by using mobile health solutions, such as tablets, for the treatment of chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Tablets by nature fit the mobile, on-the-go needs of doctors, whether moving from patient-to-patient or doing rounds at the hospital, said Michael Allenson, director of Technology/Telecom Research Group from Maritz Research. As developers move to optimize content for the tablet screen, they are leveraging a variety of applications, including better resolution of X-rays, MRI results, CAT Scans, and more.
In a clinical context, physician references include Epocrates, for drug reference, and PalmEM, for emergency medicine reference, as well as stand-alone applications like DrChrono and extensions of hospital information systems, such as Epic’s Canto.
Tablets can also be used for applications, such as continuing education that feature high resolution, interactive videos. In one application, clinicians can read and record patient medical results, such as blood pressure and glucose levels on a tablet. This reduces paperwork (and associated errors) and administrative costs, drives more efficiency and productivity, and accelerates doctor and nurse decision-making, says Frances Dare, senior executive with Accenture’s mobility business focused on the healthcare industry.
But according to Dr. Brian Phelps, an emergency physician, so far it’s not tablets that excite doctors, but the sleek, easy-to-use, and lightweight iPad. “Doctors have seen the potential to streamline work at the bedside and get them back to the way they used to work before point-and-click interrupted their workflow,” says Phelps, who is also CEO of Montrue Technologies, creator of the Sparrow EDIS, an Emergency Department Information System for the iPad.
As with any new device, tablets come security and compliance challenges, such as HIPAA/HITECH regulations that require that patient data be encrypted at all times. Roger Ordman, Red Bend software director, recommends that tablets have mobile virtualization software in order to keep patient information secure.
“With mobile virtualization, a healthcare organization’s IT department - either directly or through a service provider - can establish a secure domain on its employees’ personal tablets where corporate applications can execute securely,” Ordman says. “By combining separate profiles for business use and personal use on the same smart device, enterprises can support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) with a solution that's both secure and manageable.”
What is the future of tablets? Ironically, Dr. Phelps says that as technology advances, it is also “getting more invisible.” From the awkward adolescence of electronic medical records, now it’s time for technology to enhance, not disrupt, the patient doctor interaction.
“I think the future of tablets is that they also will disappear. Eventually we may use Google Glasses or tooth-imbedded microchips. Whatever it is, it will help us connect with people, focus on the heart of the matter, and provide clinical decision support in a non-intrusive manner.”
