I came across an article this morning about the growing trend of doctors using tablets in healthcare – specifically the Microsoft Surface Pro and the Apple iPad. According Manhattan Research quoted in the article, 72% of healthcare providers now use tablets in their jobs. The iPad accounts for over half of the tablets used in healthcare delivery, and 40% of the overall tablet market, but the newly released Microsoft Surface Pro is also making a big play. According to MobiHealthNews, the healthcare tablet industry is expected to hit $63 million dollars in 2013 – that’s a lot of room for the Surface to challenge the iPad’s current hold on the healthcare market.
Each tablet has its positives and negatives – the iPad Mini is small, fitting easily in most hands as well as the pocket of standards lab coats. The Surface has an optional keyboard making data entry quick and easy. While the iPad has had a steady grip on the healthcare industry since its introduction in 2010, the Surface is a new player with great potential. Both tablet options allow physicians to view patient charts on the go and allows more freedom and flexibility in delivering care.
The article I read, Microsoft Aims To Take On iPad In Health Care, features doctors at Palmetto Health in South Carolina using (and loving) the Microsoft Surface Pro. Check out the video they made – do you think Apple has anything to worry about with the Surface?
