One of the biggest problems in healthcare today is missed medications.  Patients who knowingly, or accidentally, forget to take their prescription medication account for approximately 45% of all medication-related hospitalizations.  This problem leads to billions of dollars in annual health care costs.  Fortunately, this is one area of healthcare that is easily managed.  Medical apps for patients help stem the tide of increasing healthcare costs by placing medication and other health-management needs in the palm of their hands.

Medical apps are being developed for both Android and iPhone operating systems that offer gentle reminders to take medications and/or provide helpful information regarding symptoms and other basic medical questions.  In 2013, smartphone apps usage is growing at a fast pace.  Estimates project that over 20 billion apps will be downloaded in 2013.  Included in this number are medical apps for patients and for doctors. 

Some of the best medical apps for Android and for iPhones are:

1. Drugs.com Medication Guide (Free) – Store all of your medication info, set reminders to take pills, look up prescription pills and learn about possible side effects.
2. Diabetes in Check (Free) – Monitor type 2 diabetes with healthy eating tips (i.e. recipes and nutritional info), exercise reminders, blood sugar monitors and medication reminders.
3. ZocDoc (Free) – Type in your zip code and insurance type and locate a doctor in your area that best suits your needs.
4. WebMD (Free) – Check symptoms, learn more about a specific condition, identify pills and locate local health facilities in case of an emergency.

Of course, with the demand for medical apps growing daily, you should take advantage of this new market and let Mystic Media design an innovative smartphone app for you.  Contact us to learn more.

What does FDA regulation have to do with mobile phone applications?  It’s called mHealth and it is taking mobile health to a higher level.  With the ability to access information anywhere, smartphones and tablets are changing the way doctors provide care to their patients.  Mobile medical applications are growing at a very fast pace.  And with increasing demand on doctors to be in more than one place at a time, these health apps make it easier for doctors to deliver care.

Many mobile medical apps pose minimal to no risk at all to patients.  Health apps that turn mobile devices into medical devices can pose a risk and need federal regulation.  Some of these apps are only accessible to doctors.  However, a growing number of mobile health apps are directly available to patients – raising concerns that patients will believe themselves to be experts and not seek medical advice because their medical smartphone apps said this or that.  Thus, the need for some regulation of mobile health apps, not total regulation, seems appropriate.  In order to find out what medical apps are currently under FDA regulation, check out: http://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/deviceregulationandguidance/ 

Mobile health apps increasing in popularity among doctors and patients are:

1. iHealth Blood Pressure Monitor – Connect a cuff to your smartphone or tablet and monitor your blood pressure.
2. SmartHeart – Uses wireless transmission to send information from your heart monitor to your mobile device.
3. OnTrack Diabetes – Free application that allows diabetics to track crucial information connected to diabetic health: blood glucose, food, blood pressure, exercise, pulse, medication and weight.

One thing is for sure, mobile health apps are a trend that is continuing to grow.  mHealth is increasing in importance and mobile health apps are making things easier for doctors and patients alike.  If you are interested in tapping into the growing, lucrative market of medical-oriented apps, Mystic Media can create the mobile app you’re looking for.  Contact us to learn more.