|
“WHAT'S IN YOUR STOCKING?”
By Paul McLeod, M.D., MED3OOO Chief Medical Executive 
Happy Holidays from MED3OOO. You may be one of those people who are really hared to buy for - you know, someone who already has everything. Helping others find the perfect gift for you can be tough, so here is a suggestion. It may be a good time to consolidate your communication needs with w new smartphone. No need to walk around any longer with a PDA in one pocket, a cell phone in another, and a beeper on your belt. The communications industry has created a variety of options that may exceed your expectations. Not only are they really "cool", these devices can provide the ultimate in convenience and can add quality to your medical practice. The ability to do research or check allergies, drugs, and doses wherever you may be, drastically reduces medical errors related to prescribing or outdated studies. As a bonus, you can use your device for a host of personal tasks as well. Basically, smartphones combine the functionality of a cell phone with that of a computer, including internet access. Here are some of the "Hot Choices" for the Holiday Season.
iPhone
Introduced in 2007 by Apple's master salesman, Steve Jobs, this was the best in class initially. Many MAC lovers feel it still is.
Operating System: iPhone (Apple)
Cellular Service Vendor: AT&T
Application Source: iTunes
Blackberry Storm
Blackberry is a very popular brand as well. It made its mark providing e-mail support for corporate users who needed to be constantly in touch, even while traveling. It is now very popular with physicians. The number of medical applications for this phone is growing rapidly. This is the "touch screen" Blackberry, and all of the original applications run on it at this time.
Operating System: Blackberry
Cellular Service Vendor: Verizon
Application Source: Multiple available online
Palm Pre
As the original makers for the PDA, Palm has a loyal group of users who have been attracted to its smartphone. With the "Classic" application, users can run their legacy PDA programs. Somewhat behind the others on medical software, this company will likely catch up in the near future.
Operating System: New web-based Palm OS
Cellular Service Vendor: Sprint
Application Source: Multiple available online
So what can they do?
The medical applications for Smartphones (both free and commercial) include drug references, medical calculators, and clinical programs that can be easily accessed, even in "out of service" areas. In addition, (or as an alternative to installed applications), physicians can access websites that contain "The 5 Minute Clinical Consult" or "UpToDate" for point-of-service, evidence-based, clinical decision support and patient education materials through the phone's browser. Physicians can even gain CME credit hours for accessing certain resources.
And the future?
Specialized companies like Garmin are branching out into this market and many others are adopting Android, the new open source operating system that is hitting the shelves the year. While not yet making the leap into medical software, who knows what the future holds.
On behalf of MED3OOO, I wish you and yours all the best for this special season.
Patient Recall – M3/Connect Patient Outreach Powered by Phytel
Is your patient volume down? Are your patients neglecting their routine and preventive care? Do you need to reconnect with patients that have not been seen in over a year? Do you need to identify those patients in your practice who should be recalled for needed services? If so, consider using our patient outreach M3/Connect technology powered by Phytel. M3/Connect can automate the process of identifying those patients in your practice who should be recalled for needed services. If you would like to proactively reach out to your patients with an automated patient recall process, please contact your account manager or Scott Madden at Scott_Madden@MED3000.com.
The Clinical Advisory is a clinical publication from MED3OOO dedicated to informing physicians and clinical staff about tools and information to improve the quality of patient care.
Corporate Headquarters: MED3OOO Inc., 680 Andersen Drive, Foster Plaza 10, Pittsburgh PA 15220. For more information on our clinical initiatives visit www.MED3000.com or contact marketing@MED3000.com or 1-888-811-2411.
·
|
.jpg)
