Wireless Apps and Cloud Computing: The Future of Health Care?

Article preview from Medtech Insight - June 1, 2011

The fast-paced world of medicine is in the midst of a staggering shift in information technology practices. More than 10,000 mobile health applications are already available and about 72% of physicians are using a smartphone. The key areas of interest center around imaging, monitoring, and reference, all of which require highly detailed and interactive software solutions.

Wireless Apps and Cloud Computing: The Future of Health Care?

Article preview from Medtech Insight - June 1, 2011

Although the fast-paced world of medicine is in the midst of a staggering shift in information technology (IT) practices, it is important to remember that despite all the high-tech tools being introduced to the market, the goal of physicians remains the same: improving their ability to treat patients. Smartphones, tablets, and the software applications that run on these handheld devices can make it easier for physicians to access important information—whether data on a specific patient or research on drugs and treatments—virtually anywhere, and that trend is growing quickly. A report from the marketing research firm RNCOS finds that more than 10,000 mobile health applications are already available and about 72% of physicians are using a smartphone.

Of course, not all apps are designed for physician use, and it is unknown how many products are consumer-oriented rather than being specifically designed for physicians or other clinicians. However, there is clearly a vast and growing number of applications on the market geared at the professional medical community. The key areas of interest center around imaging, monitoring, and reference, all of which require highly detailed and interactive software solutions.

Some of the physician-oriented apps that seem to represent what the medical community wants include the groundbreaking product from privately held MIM Software Inc., a company that develops and markets imaging software for radiation oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine, neuroimaging, and cardiac applications.

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