According to Dalal, "iPhone healthcare applications are becoming important to consumers and physicians alike." The majority of physicians using Epocrates Rx do so to practice safer medicine. It helps them to prescribe accurate drug dosages, identify adverse reactions and check for potential drug interactions. "At the same time," says Dalal, "an increasing number of consumers find value as they become more involved in medical care." Thousands have downloaded the free drug reference to their iPhones to monitor personal healthcare. "In short, the success of Epocrates Rx application shows the emergence of consumer healthcare as a killer category on the iPhone," says Dalal.

Epocrates Rx software is also available for Palm, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry.

Lifesaving images on a small screen
The OsiriX coupled with the iPod, is popular because it saves hospitals and clinics time and money - replacing more expensive devices. The OsiriX is an interactive visualization program designed to display and analyze medical images. The iPod Touch version allows for downloading and manipulating of images directly onto the device. It is capable of displaying images from ultrasound, CT scanners, MRIs, PETs, and more in the standard DICOM format used by the medical industry, and is designed to run on the desktop version of the software for Mac.

Philips - Another consumer to health care fit
Philips Healthcare is an OEM that has developed a strong link between consumer and health care with many of their products. Eric van't Hoff, Business Development Manager at Philips thinks that the ProScribe (Philips Consumer Lighting) is "indeed a good fit since the concept was first made by Philips for the consumer market, but is now focused on a specific niche market only - health care."

The ProScribe was initially designed for any workflow user who is always on the move. It enables access to important data immediately using an innovative cordless display allowing a user access to information immediately. The Philips ProScribe connects physicians to patient information in the same manner. A physician visiting patients in a ward can use ProScribe to prescribe medication or make laboratory appointments on the spot. Nurses can use the display to enter blood pressure, temperature and other relevant data. van't Hoff believes with a wireless client, medical professionals can reduce their administrative workload, increase the accuracy of clinical decisions and improve patient care.

More Industry Headlines