(Don't forget to check out our last list of Best Apps For Healthcare Professionals!)
On Apple and Android devices, there are over two million apps available, so it’s not a surprise that quite a few of these are dedicated to health care, and physicians, in particular. As technology advances, we’re all looking for ways we can streamline our processes and manage our time more effectively. And with such busy work schedules, physicians can benefit from these apps more than most.
Here are just some of the top apps for doctors.
Medscape
Created by WebMD, this app allows a variety of medical professionals, including doctors, to look up dosages, identify supplements and drugs and consult a database full of clinical references. This enables them to find what they’re looking for straight away, without having to trawl through hundreds of medical reference books. Instead, they have access to an entire library of resources at the click of a button.
Universal Doctor Speaker
Created for doctors who are trying to communicate with patients whose first language isn’t English, Universal Doctor Speaker helps to make sure patients are receiving all the information they need in their own language. It does this by translating complex medical terms into 17 different languages, which can then be communicated to patients through an audio feature. Failing that, doctors may want to try the drawMD app instead, which allows them to draw their analysis, showing the patient which area is affected and what their procedure will entail. The app also comes with a number of pre-drawn images so doctors don’t have to be budding artists to use it!
Adding to these communication apps is one that can record telephone conversations – allowing patients and doctors to record these to reference them at a later date (learn more). This is particularly useful if there is a language barrier or the doctor/patient needs to remember key pieces of information.
Figure 1
This app boasts similar qualities to Instagram as it’s a photo app that allows medical professionals to share images of things they have come across in their practice. This could be anything from an unusual fracture to an X-ray. Sharing these images allows doctors to help each other find the right treatment (they can comment on the photo) while also raising their awareness of these particularly unusual cases. Doctors do have to adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, removing any identifiable features of the patient before uploading the photo (e.g. tattoos or faces).
Iodine
Because of the amount of new medications and treatments available, it can be difficult for doctors to keep on top of these. However, Iodine simplifies this by offering reviews of various new treatments and medications. This means, if a doctor is unsure whether or not to prescribe their patient a certain treatment, they can read the reviews to see how other patients have reacted to the drug in the past. Using this information alongside their own knowledge will enable medical professionals to find the right treatment option for their patients.
About the author:
Maisie Graham is a secretary who has worked in a broad range of offices over the years. For her, work is all about efficiency. She shares some tips on keeping offices and employees in top form!
