The link between medicine and technology is nothing new. We have been using complex technological devices for decades with great effect and without the advance of technology many important leaps forward would not have been made. Yet despite this, there still remains a chasm between doctor and patient. After all, the doctor can’t step into the patient’s shoes and only has their testimony of the symptoms they are experiencing.
Better Communication
Communication is key to an effective doctor-patient relationship. When treating long-term conditions and chronic illnesses, doctors need to remain in constant contact with their patient, to evaluate and better understand their progression. With this in mind, Apple developers have been working on apps to improve the patient-doctor relationship.
Once a year, Apple holds a special event where it unveils its latest products and innovations. This year, much of the focus was on the new, larger, iPad, but what was exciting to many in the medical profession was the announcement of two new apps: 3D4Medical and Airstrip.
3D4Medical
Learning about anatomy is an important part of medical training. In the old days, students carved up cadavers or devoured textbooks to find out how muscles, ligaments, bones and organs worked, but with the advance of technology, there are now other options to explore.
The new 3D4Medical app from Apple produces anatomically correct, beautifully rendered 3D images of every facet of the human body. The app, which is available for the new iPad Pro, will help doctors and physiotherapists show patients how particular parts of the human body function. So if the patient has a bone fracture or torn ligament, the doctor or therapist can use the app to better explain where and how the problem occurred. The physician can even send you a copy of the image via email, so you can post it on social media and impress your friends.
AirStrip
The Apple Airstrip app has been developed for Apple Watches. It is designed to enable healthcare professionals to monitor a patient’s vitals and health status in real time, so if your doctor wants to check your blood pressure, he or she can use the app to do so.
The AirStrip app can also be used in conjunction with the Sense4Baby unit and a heart rate monitor to monitor the progress of an unborn foetus. The expectant mother will be able to record and listen to her unborn baby’s heart beat and send that information to her obstetrician, which is likely to be of great comfort to anxious mothers-to-be and women with high risk pregnancies.
Some people will undoubtedly find the thought of sharing sensitive health information via an app very scary. However, there is absolutely nothing to worry about because the app complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, so your information is 100% safe at all times.
A Digital Future
Apps are becoming an increasingly important part of our future healthcare system, so it will be interesting to see what future apps are developed that further close the gap between the medical and digital world.
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