By Randy Hamlin, VP and business leader, Ultra Mobile, Philips

Health organizations are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to digital technology. This momentum has been propelled in part by technological advances, but also by a changing landscape and increasing demands to cut costs and improve care. The evolution in healthcare took off with a move toward cloud-based EMR solutions, where digital innovation was used to create a more integrated care delivery model. Now, and in looking ahead, we see a new frontier in personal technology.

Personal technology – a smartphone, tablet – has become a natural extension of how we interact with others in and outside a healthcare setting. Because of its nearly ubiquitous status, it’s now affording healthcare organizations and professionals a new way to deliver care, while aligning with the mantra of better care, improved outcomes, at a lower cost. In addition to bringing care closer to the bedside, we’re seeing a host of other benefits resulting from the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement.



Clinicians, for example, are experiencing advantages to personal technology in the workplace. We’re finding that for providers, BYOD offers the advantages of reduced training burden, greater productivity, enhanced professional satisfaction and quick, effective decision-making. With faster access to email, files and test results, providers spend less time on large devices and computer systems and more time with their patients.

“Having a small, mobile device that can be handheld or on a stand allows providers to conduct ultrasound scans quickly and easily, versus having to wait for equipment to become available,” said Jared Marcucci MD, emergency medicine physician and ultrasound director, Saint Anthony Hospital and Community First Medical Center. “I like having the flexibility to choose a tool that I’m already familiar and comfortable with, so that I dedicate maximum time and focus on the exam itself, and more importantly, the patient.”

BYOD is demonstrating benefits that help to improve the healthcare experience for the organization, care teams, and most importantly, the patient. Some examples include:

• Smart-device ultrasound connects a phone or tablet, a mobile application and a transducer with integrated IT to help healthcare providers take care where it’s needed, whether that’s at the bedside or in more remote, rural settings.

• Electronic health records (EHRs) include medical history, progress notes, medications and lab data. When available via a mobile device, EHRs can streamline clinician workflow and eliminate the need for a patient to reiterate the same information to different people.

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