The Use of Smartphones in Medicine
The applications of smartphones in medicine are vast; they can be seen impacting patient-clinician communication, advancing patient care, diagnostic and monitoring tools, promoting access to medical education, and expanding research efforts [1].
The most straightforward impact of smartphones in the medical setting can be observed in the ways in which they have enabled real-time messaging, communication, and information retrieval. A 2012 Manhattan Research/Physician Channel Adoption Study found that nearly 90% of physicians own and use smartphones in their workplace [2]. Conveniently, smartphones integrate both computing and communication features, making information like drug and diagnostic data easy to access and impart at the point of care [2]. This technology has been shown to improve communication and care coordination between healthcare providers, in particular, on inpatient wards [3]. Additionally, the integration of smartphone data collection and interfacing capacities with Electronic Health Record (EHR) maintenance has proven to be a key component of medical homes and enhanced patient-clinician communication [1, 2, 3].
Notably, the most popular and well-elucidated usage of smartphones in medicine can be seen in the myriad of patient monitoring and diagnostic smartphone applications (apps) and their Bluetooth and/or hardwired extensions that effectively convert smartphones into medical devices [3]. The implications these apps and their portable extensions hold for patient monitoring and diagnostics have already proven to be significant in the field [2, 3, 4]. A few of the most striking examples include the use of smartphones as single-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) devices, safety monitoring devices for patients with dementia, non-invasive (flashlight-based) anemia detecting devices, real-time heart disease and diabetes monitoring technology, and as Doppler devices that measure blood flow [1, 3, 5]. Without question, smartphones may promote early detection and enhanced treatment/monitoring for any number of conditions and have already proven promising in increasing access to select medical services in under-resourced territories and nations [3, 4].
Although less studied, health apps for the layperson and physician/medical student reference apps also utilize smartphones for medical purposes [3]. For instance, diet, weight loss, and fitness apps are the most commonly downloaded among adult users and employ smartphone-integrated features as health tools, such as the accelerometer and GPS in smartphones as pedometers and navigators [3]. Meanwhile, other apps can promote mindfulness practices, help women track their monthly cycles, and aid patients in accessing practical healthcare information and reminders [1, 2, 3]. Despite the lack of data on the use of physician/student reference apps, one study claimed that over half of Epocrates users (an app designed to disseminate reference information on drugs, diseases, diagnostics, and patient management) reported that it helped reduce medical errors [3]. Accordingly, the role of smartphones in medical education is expected to rise, especially as we witness the increasing use of similar technology, such as in many universities across the country where students are issued iPads in place of medical textbooks [1, 3].
Even so, concerns over smartphones’ potential risks pervade clinical contexts: from the dangers of physician distraction to perceived unprofessionalism by patients and colleagues to a general lack of proper financial and techno-sociological integration into medical settings [3]. One present-day challenge is the deficiency of smartphone-literacy more commonly, but not exclusively observed in elderly physician and patient populations [4]. What’s more, skeptics of the surge in smartphone-based data collection point to the risk of ‘clinician data-overload,’ underscoring the necessity for effective medical smartphone-based data integration strategies to identify clinically relevant information [3, 4]. Additionally, although the potential of smartphone advances to reduce healthcare costs is highly promising, current provider reimbursement models typically rely on in-person consults for billing purposes, highlighting the need for proper financial integration and coordination of smartphone technology [2, 3]. Yet another concern raised by the arrival of seemingly countless health apps is the reliability of the information they disseminate and are premised upon, calling attention to the need for strengthened regulations (already underway by the FDA) [4, 5]. Relatedly, ensured confidentiality of personal medical data indicates the need for enhanced HIPAA-compliant and secure technology regulations for smartphone-based apps, also currently underway [2, 3, 4].
Indeed, continued research and analysis into the role of smartphones in all aspects of medical applications will pave a path towards their streamlined, effective integration and usage. In short, as we continue to observe advancements in areas such as telemedicine, patient care, and remote research capacities facilitated by this technology, the omnipresent role of smartphones in medicine cannot be understated.
[1] Batista, Michael A, and Shiv M Gaglani. “The Future of Smartphones in Health Care.” AMA Journal of Ethics 15, no. 11 (January 2013): 947–50. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2013.15.11.stas1-1311.
[2] Ventola, C Lee. “Mobile Devices and Apps for Health Care Professionals: Uses and Benefits.” P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management. MediMedia USA, Inc., May 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4029126/#b1-ptj3905356.
[3] Ozdalga, Errol, Ark Ozdalga, and Neera Ahuja. “The Smartphone in Medicine: A Review of Current and Potential Use among Physicians and Students.” Journal of Medical Internet Research. Gunther Eysenbach, September 27, 2012. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3510747/.
[4] “Smartphone Medicine.” The Journal of Healthcare Contracting, n.d. http://www.jhconline.com/smartphone-medicine.html.
[5] “HemaApp Screens for Anemia, Blood Conditions without Needle Sticks.” UW News, n.d. https://www.washington.edu/news/2016/09/07/hemaapp-screens-for-anemia-blood-conditions-without-needle-sticks/.