“Health Apps:
Handheld extensive exam in
the Doctor’s office and home.”
~ Cynthia G. Creel
May 7, 2013
My story:
The doctor came directly from the operating room and spoke softly and kindly. There was no way to soften the blow of the words, “The cancer has spread throughout her abdomen.” There wasn't much hope give that a solution could be found. Treatments and 9 months ended with the loss of my mom’s life. In my mom’s time there was nothing that worked or more that could be done to stop the cancer and the devastation to her liver and organs that had already started.
Time had been the enemy. Time could have been a savior By the time my mom had realized there was a problem it was too late to have an effective way to save her. If there had only been a way for her to understand there was a problem early on then the choice to take action months before that may have saved her life. Well now there just might be an app for that.
New apps may save lives:
There are tons of apps for smartphones or tablets to play games or help with almost any situation. One of the hottest areas for an apps is to help with health issues to identify and to keep up with the changes in health. Both physicians use and patients uses on a daily bases most likely will change the effectiveness of diatonic tools. . Giving physicians access to more extensively exam a patient in office to quickly identify a developing problem before it becomes a full blown problem at home.
Government apps for health:
Just released: A new app to help people to learn about health was released by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (1). The player of the game becomes a disease detective in the app “Solve the Outbreak”. The User’s goal is to figure out what disease is creating havoc and how it started. Health information is given along the way to help educate and win the game before the disease takes over.
This game mimics real life to help the player understand more and possible apply the information to the real world to protect themselves against an outbreak.
Apps for doctors to help with health:
Time is important for both the patient and the doctor. That can be difficult with tons of patience being seen by a doctor every day. It is always a balancing act to give quality care and keep a doctor’s visit shorter and more to the point. Doctor’s need to be fast and patients don't want to be there any longer then necessary to take care of their problem.
Being accurate is always the challenge. It is often if there is a medical procedure needed it will be done outside doctor’s office taking more time to receive more extensive information. Medical equipment is a major cost to a doctor’s office. What if the smartphone or a tablet could be transformed into a medical device for the heart, blood pressure, arteries in the back of the eye, images of the eardrum and the list is getting longer every day As seen on Youtube posted by the associated press (3) it may be possible for every doctor to have many medical devices in the palm of their hand through the use of apps and smart phones or tablets. This instant information is a tool that helps a doctor to understand quickly what is going on and to take the next step.
Beyond analyzing the situation a doctor is faced with a plethora of choices diagnosis and treatment options to find what the next best step. New apps also help lead a doctor to the most effective treatment, medication and dose for the patient. The app to help determine dosage (5) is one of many that might lead to better care. Many patients having many possibility of several medications could be mind boggling and an opportunity for mistakes to happen. Knowing the interactions of medications could affect what is being prescribed and the dose recommended. Apps just might help solve this challenge. Understanding the whole picture accurately and quickly may just help determine what quality of care is given to each patient.
Apps used at home to help:
Most people have to take care of in everyday life, squeezing in a lifetime of actives into each day, keeping track of what is going on with the body, may be important and difficult. The apps that can help doctor’s in their office may be able to help at home. The idea of moles that turn into cancerous issues is scary. Checking the size color and shape can become a daunting task. Did it really change in color or shape or did I just think it did? This is a question that can be eliminated almost entirely by using an app made for home use to monitor moles (4). This new app allows the user to take a picture of a mole on a regular bases to note if there is a change happening over time. If there is a change detected then there is an opportunity to take the next step early on to help prevent a devastating result. If there is no recognition of a situation until much later the risk of incurable skin cancer is elevated.
Final words:
It is clear if there is accurate information that can be gained quickly gives more time to take care of a potentially life threatening situation. Apps for smartphones and tablets seem to be here to stay and are becoming more plentiful by the day. If the app is designed well it has the potential of helping the doctor and the user at home giving the most opportunity to understand at an early stage and help prevent a more difficult situation to be dealt with.
If my mom had known about her cancer early it would have increased her odds to survive dramatically. If she had lived, my life and my children’s lives would have been enriched by her presents. Instead the next best thing of stories and pictures had to fill her shoes. We can all start to help ourselves by being proactive. The newest way seems to be an app, giving power to know in the palm of the hand.
The new solution may help to keep moving in the best direction is to step onto the path of True Health maybe with the download of a new app. Discover a new world. Help yourself, help the world, step onto the Path of True Health and vote with your dollars which turkey supplier you want to support to create a world you will love to live in. I do, and I like the world I am helping to create. Together we can create a better life for all to remember over their entire lifetime Together we can protect what we have so we don't need to live in a world that is second rate.
By Design ~ “Life is good By Design”
Photo by Cynthia G. Creel all rights reserved ©2013
Peach blossoms on the By Design Farm
all rights reserved ©2013 written permission is needed to duplicate
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of By Design or Cynthia G. Creel. Consultation of a medical professional is highly recommended before any changes are considered. This article is not saying anyone person in a leadership position is unhealthy or healthy, it is just a possibly of many and is only speaking in general terms. .Note: No company mentioned in this article is considered to serve “healthy or unhealthy” food, any examples given was only used as an example of how business works though their history and public information. The focus is only to help explain a idea. Statements and conclusions of any study authors that are presented are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Cynthia G. Creel or any means the information is published. There is no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
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Sources:
(1) http://www.hhs.gov/news/healthbeat/2013/03/20130325a.html
(2) http://www.cdc.gov/mobile/Applications/sto/
(3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dk0zeW6SPtY
(4) https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doctor-mole-skin-cancer-app/id562711395?mt=8
(5) http://www.imedicalapps.com/2013/05/safedose-multilingual-app-medication-dosing-guidance/
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