Hey doc, are you connected? More and more often these days, the answer to that question is yes. A growing number of physicians are making the rounds using tablets, smartphones, and other connected devices, with some even making it a point of having these devices on hand for critical-care procedures.
Data revealed earlier this month from Manhattan Research, www.manhattanresearch.com, shows device adoption among physicians is as hot as ever. Numbers from more than 3,000 practicing physicians in the United States across 25 different specialties uncovered some interesting trends to watch. Among those trend is the fact doctors prefer iPads and that a multiscreen approach might be the future of healthcare.
The fact 62% of physicians surveyed actively use tablets for professional purposes is exciting enough; but what is even more enlightening is the fact half of them have used the device at the point of care. This clearly demonstrates the fact reliability associated with the devices is becoming less and less of a concern. In fact, the Manhattan research shows more physicians are taking a three-screen approach to staying connected, turning to tablets, smartphones, and desktop/laptops.
While there is little doubt devices are indeed making an impact inside the four walls of today’s medical facilities, the question of what wireless in general can accommodate is still a growing development.
According to nonprofit medical research organization The West Wireless Health Institute, www.westwirelesshealth.org, ‘wireless health’ shouldn’t be confused with things like electronic health records or telemedicine. Rather, wireless health refers to using wireless technologies for healthcare delivery and personal health management, encompassing end-to-end solutions that facilitate continuous access to healthcare information, expert advice, or therapeutic intervention.
Such actions are being enabled by M2M (machine-to-machine) technologies, including remote sensing and smart services and platforms, to faster broadband networks, among others. We continue to see countless examples across the board of innovative healthcare applications that include everything from the remote monitoring of patients and equipment, to connected ambulances that can provide immediate data to first responders.
One project from The West Wireless Health Institute is Infrastructure Independence, a healthcare research program that aims to create a new model of healthcare delivery, built around things like wireless health solutions to create an integrated model of continuous care.
Clearly the use of M2M and connected devices for the medical profession is as hot as ever. Don’t miss the panel discussion ‘Doctors in the House’ during this year’s Connected World Conference, in which three doctors and one CTO (chief technology officer) from a major hospital come together to debate the issues, including the impact of regulations like HIPAA, FDA, and FCC; the development of wireless networks inside hospitals; and factors holding back more widespread adoption at the healthcare level; among others. |