SCOTUS Decision Likely to Indirectly Affect mHealth

The recent ruling on the ACA by the Supreme Court has certainly caused quite the stir. Comment boards, Facebook statuses, and dinner-table discussions around the country have revolved around this ruling, for better and for worse. Will the SCOTUS decision affect mHealth? According to David Lee Scher, MD, it will. In his recent article at mhimss.com, with the millions of people affected by it, mHealth may be able to help those who may benefit the most. He discussed five ways SCOTUS is going to affect mHealth, which are:

  1. The healthcare infrastructure will benefit from digital and mobile health technologies: Because resources will be stretched thin as millions of uninsured Americans scramble for insurance, Scher believes that Medicaid providers will likely find the easiest way to communicate with new enrollees will be by enrolling them in mobile programs. He said that “it would be much easier to provide public service announcements that include how to donwload an app to enroll or obtain information on benefits than hire thousands of customer service representatives creating countless hours of telephone waiting time and the purchase of streamed music for the wait.”
  2. The increased demand for mHealth will necessitate a more industry-friendly regulatory process: Recent talk of the FDA regulating mobile health apps has made app makers everywhere a bit antsy. However, the SCOTUS decision may cause the mHealth to be in more demand than ever. This will hopefully create a better regulation process, that is unique to mHealth, and “not adaptation of the same processes with retrofitting of definitions and reviews.”
  3. Health information exchanges will be critical for Medicaid success: With the expected growth of Medicaid, the states that are behind in health care IT for Medicaid will likely be forced to get more up to date.
  4. Patient engagement will become a necessity: People are going to have to become more involved with their health care. mHealth technology will help with self-management, from diagnosing symptoms, making appointments, and finding providers through the use of mobile apps. Hospitals and physicians will also benefit by being able to transmit public service announcements.
  5. It will expedite transition from fee-for-service to bundled and outcomes-based reimbursement, facilitating mHealth adoption: The bundled and outcomes-based reimbursement model is far more economical and efficient than fee-for-service. Because mHealth has those same qualities, it will likely be used in the outcomes-based reimbursement.

I think Scher has made some good points and that mHealth will most definitely be affected by the SCOTUS decision. He summed up his article very well, in my opinion, with this:

So while the SCOTUS decision will not directly affect mHealth, its ramifications will, in my opinion, not only facilitate by create the absolute need for proliferation and adoption of the technologies. It will also foster a participatory medicine mentality by necessity, and mHealth will be there when it happens.

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July 9, 2012 I Written By

Katie Clark is originally from Colorado and currently lives in Utah with her husband and son. She writes primarily for Smart Phone Health Care, but contributes to several Health Care Scene blogs, including EMR Thoughts, EMR and EHR, and EMR and HIPAA. She enjoys learning about Health IT and mHealth, and finding ways to improve her own health along the way.

Filed Under: Health Care  Healthcare IT  Medical Devices  mHealth  Mobile Health Care
Tags:  Affordable Health Care Act  David Lee Scher  SCOTUS

5 Must-Have Medical Apps for Medical Students

I think it’s safe to say that the next generation of doctors won’t be shying away from using mHealth. However, before having the opportunity to use all the health technology out there in their own practices, there are a few hurdles medical students need to come, the most important being graduation. There are many apps that have been developed to help med students on that journey, and even after graduation. After reading countless reviews, websites, and seeing what apps Harvard Med Students found the most helpful, here is a list of the top five apps for medical students:

1. Epocrates: This app topped many lists that I viewed and for good reason. According to its iTunes page, Epocrates is the number one mobile drug reference used by U.S. physicians, and apparently, 50 percent of physicians rely on it (how accurate that statement is, I have no clue). Before I get ahead of myself, the Epocrates is a company that has a variety of mobile apps available, ranging from anatomy, to first aid, to flash cards for different specialities. Most of them require a hefty fee, but the one I am talking about right now is free. The free version, which allows the user to “get quick access to reliable drug, disease, and diagnostic information at the point of care” has the following features:

  • Clinical information on thousands of prescription, generic, and OTC drugs
  • In-depth formulary information
  • Pill ID
  • Check for adverse reactions between up to 30 drugs at a time
  • Dozens of calculations, such as BMI and GFR
  • Current medical news, research, and information
The app is available for the iPhone, , Windows, and the Blackberry.

If you are willing to pay the price, the med students at Harvard recommend Epocrates Essentials, which costs $159 a year, but is far more comprehensive and can be purchased here.

2. iRadiology: Another free app, iRadiology is a “compendium of over 500 unique images demonstrating the classic radiological findings of a multitude  of abnormalities.” The information is pulled from the teachings of Dr. Gillian Lieberman, Director of Harvard Medical Student Education. The resources are available without an Internet connection and would be perfect for studying on the go. The app has over 500 unique cases which have detailed descriptions and a discussion about the findings, quizzes that require the user to find abnormalities, real-life pictures, and a comprehensive keyword search.

The app is available for the iPhone.

3. Dynamed: This app has over 3,100 “evidence-based clinical summaries updated daily and intended for use primarily at the point-of-care.” The database is very comprehensive and organized alphabetically. Conditions, treatments, and more can be easily searched for and reviewed. This is a subscription based app and an access code is required in order to use the app. Many medical institutions have subscriptions and can give their access code to students. However, if your school doesn’t offer a subscription, contact  for an access code. The app covers more than 850 subjects and features a comprehensive drug guide, medical alerts, and calculators.

The app is available for the iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Windows.


4. Medscape Mobile: With a nearly 5 star rating in the iTunes app store, 1.4 million healthcare professional users, and the #1 most downloaded free medical app in 2010, this is a must for all students and people working in the medical field. It is a very comprehensive go-to app with a little bit of everything. There is up-to-date meidcal news, clinical references for drugs and diseases, and its newest feature, medical calculators. The calculators have 129 medical formulas, scales, and classifications, and supports both US and SI systems. There is information on over 8,000 drugs, features more than 600 step-by-step procedure videos, and sections on different specialties. If you only download one app during medical school, consider this one.

This app is available for the iPhone, , Blackberry, and 

5. Eponyms (for students): With the amount of eponyms that should be learned, this app helps make that process a little easier. Featuring over 1,700 “common and obscure” eponyms, 28 categories, and learn mode. Learn mode randomly displays different eponyms from a particular category that has been viewed recently, making it easy to review eponymns and get them committed to memory. The app uses a data base of eponyms created by Andrew J. Yee, which can be found here. Note that the free student version is only intended for students.

This app is available for the iPhone and .

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July 6, 2012 I Written By

Katie Clark is originally from Colorado and currently lives in Utah with her husband and son. She writes primarily for Smart Phone Health Care, but contributes to several Health Care Scene blogs, including EMR Thoughts, EMR and EHR, and EMR and HIPAA. She enjoys learning about Health IT and mHealth, and finding ways to improve her own health along the way.

Filed Under: Android  Apple  Blackberry  Gadgets  Health Care  Healthcare Social Media  iPad  iPhone  Medical Devices  mHealth  Mobile Health Care  Smart Phones  Tablets  Windows Phone
Tags:                            

Gauss Surgical Develops App to Monitor Blood Loss in OR

It seems like I hear a story every other week about someone who lost a lot of blood while in the hospital. A new app created by health startup, Gauss Surgical Inc., may be changing that.

The startup is in the process of developing an app for the iPad designed to monitor and track the amount of blood lost during a surgery. The app scans gauze and anything else that may collect blood during a procedure, and uses an “algorithm to estimate the total amount of blood on those surfaces.” This algorithm indicates the amount of blood that was lost, which allows surgical staff to determine if extra precautions should be taken for the remainder of the patient’s stay.

According to an article at Med City News on the app, most doctors visually estimate blood loss, which tends to be inaccurate. The article cited a study at Johns Hopkins that discovered that “overestimating or underestimating blood loss can contribute to patient complications, morbidity and mortality while increase care costs.” It seems like there definitely needs to be a more accurate way to monitor what could be a life-or-death situation. This app may be just the thing, since “the app can report blood loss with up to 98% accuracy,” according to Siddarth Satish, the co-founder of the app.

Personally, if I am on the operating table, I would want something as essential as blood loss to be monitored closely. Not only does it affect me, but it prevents more costs from piling up, such as emergency blood transfusions. This is one of the first platforms to be developed for the OR, and hopefully it will be able to be released widespread soon.

The product is still in beta-testing in five undisclosed hospitals across the country and won’t be released until the fall, as there are still some bugs that need to be worked out. Gauss Surgical Inc. has received some FDA clearance on the app and are hoping the entire app will be approved before its release.

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July 5, 2012 I Written By

Katie Clark is originally from Colorado and currently lives in Utah with her husband and son. She writes primarily for Smart Phone Health Care, but contributes to several Health Care Scene blogs, including EMR Thoughts, EMR and EHR, and EMR and HIPAA. She enjoys learning about Health IT and mHealth, and finding ways to improve her own health along the way.

Filed Under: Health Care  Healthcare IT  iPad  Medical Devices  mHealth  Mobile Health Care
Tags:Blood Loss App  Blood Loss Medical Devices  ED Apps  ED Medical Devices  ER Apps  Gauss Surgical Inc.  Johns Hopkins  Siddarth Satish

Controlling Dreams With Free Dream:On App

As I started to read David’s post about the Remee Sleep Mask last week to my husband, he mentioned that he had heard of app iPhone app that supposedly does the same thing. While it may not be as high-tech (and probably accurate in its job) as the sleep mask, there’s one alluring factor to it that makes me tempted to try it out: it is free.

The app is a “mass-participation experiment” that is trying to determine if it is indeed possible to control what you dream about. It basically does the same thing that the sleep mask does, but for a better description, Dream:On’s website provides this video that explains the premise behind how it works:

Although the music used in this is slightly strange, I think it sounds like a neat idea, if it actually works. As it mentions in the video briefly, it is a social experiemtn as well, because you can post your dreams to Facebook and Twitter, and indicate if any of your friends appeared in the dream. The app also features a “Dream Bank” where users are encouraged to write what the dream was about. I’m guessing that is to help the creators decide if the “soundscape” chosen affected the dream or not.

Another added feature is a “smart alarm” that “gently” sounds before the time you have selected, which apparently wakes the user up at “the optimum moment in order to leave you feeling refreshed and happy.” I don’t know about everyone else, but most of the time when I wake up, I’m feeling groggy, grumpy, and a little bit sick (having a 3-month-old that likes to wake up during the night tends to have that effect at times!), I wouldn’t mind trying that out.

I haven’t had a chance to actually use the app at night yet, but I did download it to my husband’s iPhone and checked it out. In order for the “dream controlling” to work, a “soundscape” must be selected. This are available for purchase, however, there are four (2 regular dream soundscapes, and 2 lucid dream soundscapes) that are included with the download. The app description also states that more free ones will be added every month, and reiterates that no purchase is necessary for the app to work — there is just less versatility available.

I was impressed with the app when I first opened it, as it gave detailed (with pictures!) instructions on how the app works. You have to go through a few steps to either allow or not allow geolocation and what not, and then the “fun” begins. A pretty neat looking screen pops up after the first page, that looks like this:

My first stop was settings, where I selected an alarm sound. You can also enable Facebook and Twitter accounts to be active for the phone at this time, as well as a snooze function. After this, I checked out the “Start Dreaming” area. Here, you are brought to a screen that looks like this:

It’s pretty self-explanatory — select a time you want to wake up, the alarm volume, alarm tone, and the soundscape. The ones included with the app are  Random, Peaceful Garden, and Into the City. At this point, I was instructed to go to sleep (which, I did not do, hence why I’m still writing this blog) and gives the following instructions:

  1. Switch your device to silent
  2. Connect your device to its charger
  3. Place your device facing down on the corner of your bed
  4. Do not lock your phone
  5. Enjoy your dreams!

The app also features a DreamStore, where you can purchase more soundscapes, and a dream diary. This is where you are supposed to be able to record your dreams, see graphs of sleep patterns, and jot down notes about dreams. The notes are used for the “Dream Catcher” experiment. When I tried to access the dream diary, it just said “you haven’t recorded any dreams yet”, and I couldn’t go any further.

On its page in the Apple app store, it says that about 50% of users see results who use it for several nights in a row and to “approach the experiment with an open mind . . . and remember controlled dreaming is not like turning on a tap, for some users it works the first night, others can take longer.”

The reviews seem a little divided. Recently, many people have been complaining that it crashes a lot. However, some say it actually works, and others have found the sleep cycle chart to be very informative and accurate. On the other side, some people claim the app has given them the most horrifying nightmares they have ever had. If that’s true, I definitely won’t be using it! Here are two opposing comments on the app; take them for what they are worth, but I feel like they are important to read before using the app:

from Raye Palmer
Warning: I downloaded this app and chose “peaceful garden.” I had the worst nightmare of my life that I can remember. I work in research and know that in order to know if the app really works there has to be some type of anti-placebo quality. Therefore, my conclusion is that the soundscape will not always play what you choose in order to rest if the soundscape is really the reason you have your dream. I checked and there really was a “horror” choice. I KNOW that’s what they played instead of the “peaceful garden”…There’s no way I dreamt that Freddy Kreuger type mess on my own! I advise you to do the same and not let other people remotely play with your brain through a phone.

from Debra King
I saw this on 20/20 the other night and decided to try it out. I am impressed. I had the best night of sleep I can remember in a long time. I awoke easily, rested with a pleasant feeling to begin my day. I can’t wait to see what tonight brings.

Either way, it’s an interesting experiment. I’ll be curious to see if anything comes from it. Dreams have always fascinated me, and it would be great to see if there is anyway to control dreams. Who knows, maybe dreams could somehow be connected to health — REM sleep is some of the best sleep a person can get, and good sleep typically means better health.The app can be downloaded for free here for the iPhone. It is not available for any other platform.

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July 3, 2012 I Written By

Katie Clark is originally from Colorado and currently lives in Utah with her husband and son. She writes primarily for Smart Phone Health Care, but contributes to several Health Care Scene blogs, including EMR Thoughts, EMR and EHR, and EMR and HIPAA. She enjoys learning about Health IT and mHealth, and finding ways to improve her own health along the way.

Filed Under: Apple  Health Care  iPhone  Smart Phones  Social Networking Health
Tags:Controlling Dreams                

Another Great Food Diary App To Consider

One thing I love about posting on Smart Phone Health Care is that when I’m researching for my posts, I come across pretty neat apps or ideas. Awhile back, I posted about some great food diary apps. Tonight, I want to talk about the latest one I have come across, called LoseIt! My interest was sparked after I read this article. The author said he lost 11 pounds in 6 weeks using this free app. After looking at the website and the mobile app I downloaded to my , I’m pretty impressed and going to start using it in conjunction with Couch-to-5k.

When registering, you are asked your age, gender, and how much you would like to lose a weight. You have to select between .5 and 2 pounds, and, depending on what you select, a daily calorie allotment is adjusted to your specific needs and gives a projected weight goal date. For someone who likes to see something full circle before I begin something, this is great, even though it’s not guarantee.

The process is simple enough. When logged-in, the home page is your log, and you simply just click on “Add Food” or “Add Exercise”, and assign a food to the correct meal. The food database isn’t too bad, but isn’t nearly as comprehensive as I found MyFitnessPal.com to be. The food section is fairly organized, allowing users to select from not only the database, but a selection of restaurants and supermarkets. I think that would be nice if you couldn’t remember the specific name of a food from a restaurant but could recognize it from a list.

There are quite a few different options on the website. Personal goals can be set (or adjusted). A variety of reports can be generated, such as weekly summaries, BMI, or a “MyPlate Report”. The “MyPlate Report” basically analyzes the food from your daily reports and shows you if it matches up with the recommendations from ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Users are encourage to use the app with friends, as the website claims “that users with 3 or more friends lose 3lbs more than users with no friends on Lose It!” There are also quite a few forums available for support, tips, or just chatting with fellow-users. I liked the “Teams, Contests, and Fun” forum the best, because who doesn’t like a little competition for motivation?

One of the best parts, in my opinion, about this website is the “motivators”. You can set reminders at certain times of the day to remind you to record meals if something hasn’t been recorded by a certain point. This reminds me a little bit of a smoking cessation program that has been created to help people quit smoking by sending motivational reminders throughout the day. I could see these reminders being helpful if a person knows when weak times are.

The app is easy to use but nothing too fancy. It’s simple to see how many calories are left for the day, as well as view a weekly report.

Overall, it seems like another great option for a food diary, but I think for the time being, I will stick with the MyFitnessPal platform. Fortunately, this is a free app that is available both for and iOS.

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July 2, 2012 I Written By

Katie Clark is originally from Colorado and currently lives in Utah with her husband and son. She writes primarily for Smart Phone Health Care, but contributes to several Health Care Scene blogs, including EMR Thoughts, EMR and EHR, and EMR and HIPAA. She enjoys learning about Health IT and mHealth, and finding ways to improve her own health along the way.

Filed Under: Android  Apple  Health Care  Healthcare Social Media  iPad  iPhone  mHealth  Mobile Health Care  Social Networking Health
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