Smartphone usage in Hospitals

[MHSINC]

Smartphone usage is rapidly increasing,but it's important that users don't allow their 'apps' to take the place of medical advice and physician diagnosis.

 

[Prahladrai]

Smartphone apps claiming to diagnose deadly melanoma cancers wrongly dismissed almost one in three suspicious moles, warn researchers.

The inaccurate feedback could result in life-threatening delays in visiting the doctor and getting treatment, they say.

A new study found three out of four apps set up to check a user’s photos of skin lesions was giving misleading results.

They diagnosed 30 per cent or more melanomas as ‘unconcerning’, when they are the deadliest of skin cancers.
The study comes amid the growing popularity of smartphone apps designed to give health advice.
Malignant melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, with more than 11,700 Britons diagnosed each year and 2,300 people dying.

 

[meheer]

There's an interesting area developing very close to what this discussion is related to. The field is often referred to as mHealth or Mobile Health.

Also, while I generally agree with what is being discussed above, I think the use of Smartphones in Hospitals has a potential to bring a positive and strategic shift in the medical care. Below are some examples that I can think of,

1. Smartphones may not be used by patient for final diagnosis, but can definitely let patients know if they should visit their doctor
2. Attending Doctors could have their patient's vitals (like ECG, Blood Oxygen levels and Pulse rates) tracked on their Smartphones
3. As an addition to the above, sudden change in patients condition could also alert doctors wherever they are through Smartphones.

There are several such examples of how Hospitals can improvise their efficiency while ensuring better management of patient care and logistics.