The FDA’s recent ruling on monitoring mobile medical applications tells us something: there are so many health apps on the market that the FDA has to focus on approving only those which are using mobile technology to make a specific diagnosis or that transform mobile devices into a regulated medical device. So with thousands of applications available, which ones should doctors focus on? Doctor Eric Topol recommends the top mobile apps for doctors to focus on:
EPOCRATES: One of the oldest and most established medical apps, Epocrates gives doctors basic information about drugs, the right dosing for adults and children, and warnings about harmful interactions.
UPTODATE: This app provides reference material doctors can consult when making treatment decisions.
ISABEL: Doctors enter symptoms, and the app lists possible diagnoses as well as medications that could cause the symptoms.
ALIVECOR: This portable heart monitor and app–one of the programs that opened Dr. Topol’s eyes–runs on a patient’s smartphone to produce electrocardiograms.
IHEALTH WIRELESS PULSE OXIMETER: People with trouble sleeping can use this app to record their blood-oxygen level during the night–data that can help a doctor diagnose whether they have sleep apnea.
RESOLUTIONMD: Doctors can look at X-rays and other images on a smartphone or tablet when they use this app
CELLSCOPE OTO: A smartphone becomes an otoscope, the instrument doctors use to look into the ear, thanks to this app and optical device.
ISCRUB: This infection-control app collects and rapidly displays data on whether hospital staff are being scrupulous about washing their hands.
BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS GUIDE: Using this app, breast-cancer patients enter and track details of their disease and treatment, from the size of the tumor to the presence or absence of estrogen receptors.
CLINICAM: Increasingly, doctors are using their phones to take photos of a patient’s condition–such as a rash or wound–and to upload the images to the patient’s electronic medical record.
