Healthcare and the iPad: What Next?
I still remember when psychiatrists and other health professionals preferred the notebook to a tablet PC . Especially when talking with clients, jotting using a tablet pen and tablet PC is better, and less distracting, then typing away at a notebook. That is why it is no wonder that doctors, nurses and other medical professionals quickly fell in love with the iPad. Lugging along something not much different from a clipboard is a step better than tagging along a notebook. The information it can store and the ease of use quickly trumps any other portable device.
2009 saw the enactment into law of HITECH or the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act. This required hospitals, under pain of penalty, to invest heavily in secure EHR systems. With this new law, doctors were forced to reconsider how they kept records. Clipboards were becoming obsolete. Still, printing out information sheets is practiced. But this has a large window for abuse and leakage of patient confidentiality. The answer to maintain access to information yet keep confidentiality came in the form of the iPad.
Of all the useful applications out there, one notable is the DrChrono app. Originally released last year, this application deals with health records electronically. Even though the free version works great, medical facilities should seriously consider availing of the more advanced paid version.
It appears that the iPad has now made its way to the list of helpful tools for a medical professional. Technology is one of the ways that the healthcare industry can offer better services at less cost. Not only will the use of the iPad meet the requirements of HITECH, it would also make doctors and patients more confident, more comfortable and more efficient in their dealings.
