How Apps Can Change Our Health Care Environment - Essay Example

Introduction: Modern technology has completely changed the pattern in which numerous functions are being performed. It’s working domain and benefits spread out to nearly all sectors. Health care sector is one of them. The introduction of applications by numerous operating systems and numerous platforms such as cell phones, tablets, computers have added another dimension to how technology has been benefiting the mankind in various ways. The field of medicine has seen substantive progress in this regard and technology has enabled achieving and making the domain of health care safer. The trend is relatively new and not all operating systems have completely embraced it totally, however this utility is slowly creeping in the technological and medical science field and enabling more benefits. Consideration of the technical jargon: Since the medical field pertains to specialization in one particular domain and that is of medicine, the chemical names and other chemical formulae, thereby the understanding maybe difficult for common man. The first and foremost consideration in this regard should be that of the level of understanding of the common man. The language must be easy to interpret and should not be restricted to one particular set of people who may specialize in medical field. The apps that have been discovered: Numerous operating systems have launched applications for the purpose of medical health. Apple Inc is one of the leaders in this field. They launched this service couple of years ago. IMedicalApps is one similar endeavor undertaken by Apple Inc and it has number of applications under its belt that facilitate better health care knowledge and awareness. Android Operating system is not far behind and it has introduced numerous applications for the same purpose. Types of applications: Applications may be created in different ways. Some that contain the technical information for the specialists and people directly associated while others as the common people who may need the general information. Health calculator: This application may be used to determine the amount of calories that may be taken daily, along with other mathematical figures that must be kept in mind. Finding the accurate blood pressures, sugar level and all the relevant information about similar minor diseases, information can be given spread through such applications. Calculate by QxMD is another application that is used as a medical calculator for same purpose. Ever note: This is another application launched by Apple Inc. though its use is related to the documents, records keeping, and finds its application with the technical members of medical field, yet the ordinary people can also make use of it via keeping record of their daily, weekly and monthly records of blood pressure, sugar level and other activities. Keeping record of other activities may also be recorded through the electronic storing means which are made possible through Ever note application Micro Medex: This particular application is useful in determining the monograph over various medicines. It offers numerous options such as toxicology which makes it more sought after by medical experts. Drop box: This is one similar application that can be used for the purpose of storing technical medical information. This even facilitates the presentation and can be used by the medical professionals. Drug reference: This is another application which may be used by the specialists, medical profession experts. They may make use of it during their duties, and dealing with the patients. Medical language translators: Epocrates: This application is used for the purpose of referencing details about particular drug (Chen, 54). This may be used for the purpose of translation from technical jargon to the lay man language. Medical awareness and education application: other similar applications include “Monthly Prescribing Reference” References: (Imedicalapps) How can apps change our health care environment? Apps can serve as reminders to notify about the timings of numerous medicines. They can be used as a tip of the day element. They can allow for creating awareness with regard to the numerous amounts of calories being consumed. They can enable attaining a balanced diet. They may allow for creating awareness about numerous diseases and their symptoms. They can further allow for guidance about the right kind of diet, working hours, exercise and many more factors that contribute towards a healthy environment. Hence these apps can serve in a completely positive way towards the improvement of health care environment which is often neglected. How can public use it: These apps may be used in cell phones; they should be promoted in different operating systems. Collaborations may be formed with the leading operating systems namely Android, Microsoft, Linux and others. Promotional part: Promoting the usage and advantages of these apps must be done in a successful way. Advertising in the right areas is another section that can be targeted for the purpose of successful launching of the apps. Making sure that the right areas are targeted and clear awareness is spread through it, all this must be part of the promotional campaign. Clearly defining the technical and non technical nature of applications: The scope of medical related applications may fall in either technical or non technical domain. The technical domain can be used by the practicing doctors themselves, and the educated lot, while the non technical information containing applications may be brought into use by the non educated users or the people who are not associated with the medical field and may be educated in other field. Guidelines: Guidelines are important for the usage and promotion of medical tips and applications. They must be officially approved from the administrative heads of the state entities. FDA is one agency that deals in the similar technical aspects of the given applications. Drug control agency prescribes same rules and regulations that they prescribe for the other forms of drugs promotion practices. Risk determination: FDA must clearly define the risks that may be attached to the promotion, or usage of any drug that is prescribed by a given application and if there is anything in a given application that runs in contrast to the health considerations, drug agencies must prevent its promotion and usage over the electronic medium. Federal Drug and Cosmetic Act is being enacted to ensure transparency of the services and applications that are being offered. Goals: The goals of this paper are to introduce and familiarize the concepts of applications, their connectivity and relevance to the field of health care and, the present day progress and the future prospect of this technology towards the benefit and welfare of mankind in not only health care sector but beyond that a swell. Other goals include addressing the manner in which these gadgets and apps are being presented and further analyzing the level of understanding. The possible improvement in areas is another area. Specific measurable learning objectives: The importance of technology in present day. Its impact on the field of health care the contributions so far in form of developed applications followed by the future consideration and the possible potential outcomes and accomplishments. Conclusion: Out of the millions of applications that are present in the market and for the common users application, a couple thousand to a few hundred may be present that work and serve in the field of health care and medical field. The number may be increased and would help improving the overall condition of the health care. This would further allow for more benefits enactment from the technological advancements that are part of nearly every discipline and domain of social life and activity. References: Chen, Brian X. Always On: How the iPhone Unlocked the Anything-Anytime-Anywhere Future--and Locked Us In. Da Capo Press, 2011. Imedicalapps. The 20 best free iPhone medical apps for healthcare professionals, edition 3. 19 June 2013. 8 October 2013 . Read More