Doctor Sees iPhone as the Future of Medicine

[Akshay Masand]

Although some iPhone users see their smartphones as a figurative life saver, Dr. Eric Topol, the Chief Academic Officer of Scripps Health, is a well-known cardiologist who is at the forefront of wireless medicine. In a segment on NBC News’ Rock Center, Topol talked about how he is prescribing apps instead of medicine to treat his patients.

According to Dr. Topol, we are at the forefront of a medical revolution that’ll be driven by smartphone-enabled medical devices. As detailed by Brian Williams in Rock Center, Topol used his iPhone in combination with an AliveCor, an iPhone-mounted sensor capable of delivering clinically accurate electrocardiograms, to measure the vital signs of a passenger experiencing severe chest pains at 30,000 feet. For those of you who want to watch the video, you can do so below:



He believes that wireless devices will streamline medicine and reduce costs because procedures will be conducted in the primary care physician’s office or even at home. The medical community is already moving toward and adopting technologies, encouraging the utility and portability of devices such as the iPhone and iPad mini. Physicians by some accounts have been quicker to adopt the iPad for use in their practices than they have the electronic health record systems which are mandated by the Affordable Care Act.

As the pace of improvement in devices continues to accelerate, it may not be too far in the future when smartphone users won’t have to call their doctor for an appointment, because their smartphone will already do it for them.

Have you had an electronically advanced healthcare experience as of yet? If so, share your thoughts below!

Source: NBC News

[iLoveWindows&iPhone]

Well um....Walgreens notified me my prescription was ready for pick-up through the Walgreens app....

[*T*]

Doctor See's????

THE TITLE IS WRONG.

[WithinTemptationFan]

Doctor sees iPhone as the Future of Medicine

[spooneditr]

I saw this special on tv and thought it was interesting. Can't wait to see this happen.

[Colby21]

Because one doctor thinks the iphone is a viable replacement to the 12-lead EKG, then everyone writes an article about it? You know physicians, especially cardiologist, are a dime a dozen, and most of them are wacked out anyway. If you told the CMO at the Cleveland Clinic that you want to take an EKG on his patients with your iphone, he'd slap the hell out of you.

[turdsmoka]

Any idea what the blood sugar sensor is and if its for sale? That looks wicked awesome.

[docmagoo2]

Because one doctor thinks the iphone is a viable replacement to the 12-lead EKG, then everyone writes an article about it? You know physicians, especially cardiologist, are a dime a dozen, and most of them are wacked out anyway. If you told the CMO at the Cleveland Clinic that you want to take an EKG on his patients with your iphone, he'd slap the hell out of you.

As a physician myself I think you've picked up on this incorrectly. He's not touting it as a replacement, merely a method of seeing the ECG rhythm strip of a patient who otherwise is not in a position to undergo an ECG. The article states "chest pain at 30000 feet" Not many aeroplanes carry ECG Equipment and a small sensor that an transmit to an iPhone can show a dr what the patients heart is doing! Personally I think it's a good idea, however such equipment and sensors would have to be properly tested and validated. I use my iPhone daily in my practice, with apps replacing books such as the British national formulary for example.

As for cardiologists being "wacked out" [sic] what do you mean?

[br8thw8]

Because one doctor thinks the iphone is a viable replacement to the 12-lead EKG, then everyone writes an article about it? You know physicians, especially cardiologist, are a dime a dozen, and most of them are wacked out anyway. If you told the CMO at the Cleveland Clinic that you want to take an EKG on his patients with your iphone, he'd slap the hell out of you.

Dr Topol isn't some run of the mill doctor, he's one of the top cardiologists in the world. Maybe you should do a little research before commenting.

Any idea what the blood sugar sensor is and if its for sale? That looks wicked awesome.

The one in the video is made by DEXCOM. You can get more information at dexcom.com. I looked into it but there is no pricing but I think it's quite pricey. The website mentioned that if you are not currently taking insulin (myself included) then very few health insurance covers any cost.

Good luck to you...