MDNews - Greater Kansas

Contents Special iSSue 2012/2013 The ceo Innovative and Transformative Practices Driving the Evolution of Health Care FeATUres soLVInG The emr conundrum 26 Electronic medical records (EMRs) can give physicians headaches and snow under the IT department with support tickets. Whatever your sticking point ��� incompatibility between vendors, system inefficiencies or end-user issues ��� the path to successful EMR implementation can seem daunting. Read on to learn strategies to help streamline EMR processes in the short and long term. heaLTh aPPs ThaT heLP hosPITaLs 28 As technology continues to advance, so do the ways physicians and other medical staff connect with patients and expand their own areas of expertise. In the midst of more than 40,000 health care apps available for download, we���ve located several gems that are tailored to the physician audience. These useful apps can enhance patient care at the bedside and keep subscribers in tune with the latest medical knowledge. PAGe 7 health Apps That Help Hospitals AS tECHnOLOGy COntInuES tO ADVAnCE, SO DOES tHE WAy PHySICIAnS AnD OtHEr MEDICAL StAff COnnECt WItH PAtIEntS AnD ExPAnD tHEIr OWn SPECIALIzED ExPErtISE. WHILE MAny HEALtH CArE APPS ArE GEArED tOWArD PAtIEntS, nEWEr APPLICAtIOnS CAn HELP PHySICIAnS AnD HOSPItALS StAy uP tO DAtE AnD EnHAnCE CArE. 26 C urrenTLy, There are more than 40,000 health applications available for download on smartphones and tablets, according to USA Today. Since the inception of apps, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has struggled to develop appropriate guidelines to ensure patients and physicians are protected. In July 2011, the FDA provided draft guidance for all health apps in development. While more general health and wellness apps ��� such as meal planners or calorie counters ��� may not need approval, medical apps containing confidential patient information, test results or images will need to adhere to these guidelines. Here���s a closer look at a few apps that can help physicians better serve their patient population. agency for healthcare research and Quality���s electronic Preventive services selector (ahrQ ePss) (free) Developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for primary care providers, this app educates clinicians about appropriate screening, counseling and preventive medication services for their patients. All information used in this app comes from evidence-based U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. Available information is searchable based on patient sex, age, behavioral risk factors and more. diagnosaurus ddx by unbound medicine, Inc. ($1.99) This app helps physicians quickly and accurately diagnose patients at the bedside. With more than 1,000 possible diagnoses featured in the app, physicians and other providers can search based on an individual patient���s symptoms or diseases and affected organ systems. Other special features include alternative diagnoses if symptoms overlap. 28 drugs & bugs by haymarket media ($5.99) Designed with the help of Philip Chung, Pharm.D., BCPS, Clinical Pharmacy Manager in Infectious Diseases at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, this app is designed for medical students and providers who specialize in infectious diseases. Its current version stores information about more than 300 anti-infective agents and nearly 280 pathogens. Users can compare how well drugs work for a specific disease, as well as consider side effects and interactions before prescribing the appropriate medication. This app is regularly updated by pharmacists and reviewed by physicians, and includes up-to-date data on viruses and antiviral medications. eye chart Pro by dok LLc (free) This app makes it possible for medical providers to administer a visual acuity test to patients in clinical or bedside settings. Used in a variety of medical schools across the country as part of the iMedEd initiative, this program allows ophthalmologists to evaluate the vision of patients of any age. This app is controlled remotely and provides randomizable tests. medcalc by mathias Tschopp and Pascal P���ffner ($1.99) Physicians and other medical staff can use this app to better calculate a patient���s overall health. The calculator offers more than 300 diagnostic formulas and scales to accurately diagnose and treat patients. Users can search for a particular equation or formula by name or keyword. medical spanish by batoul apps ($5.99) This handy app helps physicians and other medical providers translate a variety of questions and statements into Spanish, allowing for better communication of care decisions such as referrals to specialists, new medications or necessary radiology tests. Commonly used phrases are also available to ensure both patient and physician feel comfortable while conversing. Physicians can ask questions and use accurate phrasing or utilize the audio clips provided within the app. Professional Spanish interpreters have reviewed all phrases, questions and answers. Proloquo2Go by assistiveware ($189.99) Through this app designed for patients who have trouble communicating verbally due to disability, physicians can now utilize a library of more than 14,000 symbols to effectively understand the health concerns or symptoms of patients. Similar in nature to an augmentative and alternative communication device, which can cost thousands of dollars, this app is great for physicians, speech-language pathologists, teachers, and parents of children and adults with autism or Down syndrome or patients dealing with the aftereffects of traumatic brain injury or stroke. Educational institutions may be eligible for a 50% discount when purchasing multiple licenses. skeletal system Pro III by 3d4medical.com, LLc ($2.99 for iPhone edition, $14.99 for iPad edition) Developed in conjunction with Stanford University School of Medicine, this app was one of iTunes��� top five medical iPad apps of 2011. Users can view and focus in on specific bones by name or landmark and also add personalized markers. This app is a perfect refresher for emergency room physicians, imaging technologists and anatomy students. ��� 30

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