Top 5 Medical Apps for Clinicians

With the explosion in medical apps available on the app stores, it’s not surprising that there are more ‘digital tools’ available to help healthcare professionals carry out everyday tasks. As with medical apps for patients there are thousands out there which aim to create efficiencies and improve access to resources on the go and we’ve selected our top 5 currently available (in no particular order).

Figure 1

This app has earned itself a lot of press recently and is a great way of allowing medical and nursing professionals to share and discuss patient treatment options by sharing medical images in a safe and secure environment. It takes a serious approach to privacy and medical app compliance with the app running on a HIPPA compliant infrastructure and algorithms like automatic face blocking built into the app to protect patient details. This is a clever app and fills a void where healthcare professionals are increasingly using unsecured or generic apps like ‘What’s App’ to share and discuss patient cases.

http://www.gponline.com/app-review-figure-1-medical-images/article/1309858
http://www.imedicalapps.com/2013/07/figure-1-app-review-instagram-physicians/
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/figure-1-medical-cases-for/id645948529?mt=8
https://figure1.com/

iOS & Android

Doximity

Doximity is the largest US network dedicated to healthcare professionals with over 50% of doctors signed up. It’s been going since 2012 and provides HIPAA-secure communication & electronic faxing, tailored medical news and career management. One of the biggest attractions is ability to earn CME credits as it’s been made very simple to do, but the most popular part of the app, is the ability to send secure HIPPA compliant faxes with each medical professional registered to the app being assigned their own dedicated fax number, free, for life. Interestingly the co-founder of LinkedIn, Konstantin Guericke, sits on Doximity’s Advisory Board so that might give an indication of where Doximity sees it’s future.

http://33charts.com/2013/08/12-things-about-doximity.html
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doximity/id393642611?mt=8
https://www.doximity.com/

iOS & Android

Prognosis (For Junior Doctors)

This is an interesting app aimed at healthcare professionals, junior doctors, medical students and nurses. By simulating a number of different clinical cases it allows you to test your diagnostic ability. With new cases added to its library each week you are presented with a short detailed review of the diagnostic process which is supported by up-to-date discussions around that condition.

http://www.prognosisapp.com/
http://www.juniordr.com/index.php/technology/best-medical-smartphone-mobile-and-ipad-apps.htmlhttp://www.imedicalapps.com/2010/11/prognosis-your-diagnosis-app-simulation-clinical-cases-iphone-free-medical-app-review/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prognosis-your-diagnosis/id392489854?mt=8

iOS & Android

 Vital Signs (NHS Workers)

This app is something a little different and has been designed specifically for the wellbeing of NHS employees. It’s purpose is to help keep NHS health professionals fit and healthy but also to provide a support infrastructure for help with alcohol misuse, healthy eating & mental wellbeing at work. There are also a range of work tools available within the app like hospital maps, local transport information and the latest health & safety guidance.

http://www.vitalsigns.nhs.uk/
http://www.ahsc.org.uk/ahsc-healthcare-apps/
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/vitalsigns/id585262640?mt=8

iOS & Android

NICE BNF

The NICE BNF app kind of encapsulates the digital transition in the medical profession. Going from what used to be hard copy buried deep within a hospital ward, the information is now available in your pocket. Once the initial download has taken place the app works off line without the need for an internet connection and its recent re-design makes it a pleasant and easy to use system allowing you to set bookmarks combined with a really good search facility. It is a free app but in order to login you will need a free Athens account that’s available to all NHS clinical staff.

http://www.nice.org.uk/about/what-we-do/nice-apps-for-smartphones-and-tablets
http://www.imedicalapps.com/2012/09/british-physicians-bnf-app-nhs-clinical-staff-free/
http://review2013-2014.nice.org.uk/support/British_National_Formulary_BNF/

iOS & Android