The need for availability goes beyond remote access to the electronic records system in the physician’s office, which works great, but sometimes a doctor is in a location without a computer, but seldom is a doctor without a phone.

Enter the new batch of apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch and Blackberry that grant physicians access to their electronic medical records without a computer.

There are several EMR apps on the market. The newest app Haiku by Epic Systems, which collaborated directly with Apple to create this app, was unveiled in mid-January.

Haiku is only available to users of Epic‘s Summer 2009 version and the proper licenses must be obtained. It works with the iPhone and the iPod touch and it allows authorized users of Epic Systems Electronic Health Record to access clinic schedules, hospital patient lists, health summaries, test results and notes.

Haiku is just the latest entry in the growing market of iPhone EMR apps. Allscripts already has the app Allscripts Remote available to users of its Allscripts Enterprise EHR or Allscripts Professional EHR.

The app works with iPhone, iPod touch, Blackberry or other windows mobile device. The app gives doctors the ability to check a patient’s medical summary including history, lab results and medications. It also lets users communicate with local emergency rooms and includes e-prescribing functionality. Any updates a physician makes using the app are recorded in the patient record.