From conception to even funeral arrangements, there is an app ready to assist users every need, which is not to say, notes Park ruefully, “that technology is always an intelligent replacement for trained professionals, no matter how conceivable that may seem.”
The trend is called mobile health or, to use tech-speak, mHealth. If you're a savvy smart phone user, you've probably seen a variety of apps geared to assist you in attaining your health or fitness goals ― using your phone like a pedometer or an alarm clock to signal when it's time to take your medicine. There are apps to count calories, keep track of alcohol intake, manage stress, and keep track of menstruation ― and many of them are free, though some are certainly more useful than others.
A few popular apps for health-conscious users include:
- iFitness: A worldwide Android/iPhone bestseller, this one is for hardcore gym bunnies. It offers hundreds of gym-based training programs, from "Body Toning for Women" to "Glutes Definition," via "Expert Golf".
- Nike+GPS: Nike does a great job with improving and updating this app frequently and through it users can map runs, join communities, track progress and even hear synthesized mid-workout “cheers.”
- WebMD’s free symptom checker: a handy “quickie diagnosis” that generates possible explanations for symptoms and gives out tips on first aid and home remedies. The app is available for both iPhone and Android.
- Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker by My Fitness Pal (free): An Android/iPhone friendly app allows users to set a daily ¬calorie limit to track food and ¬exercise throughout the day with pre-programmed weight loss/gain settings.
- Period Tracker by GP International: The lite version is free, and provides a handy aid for women seeking to document menstrual symptoms, fertility, and has been praised as a tool for conception.
Samsung Medical Center is going a step further to integrate smart phone technology into their clinical healthcare system, and patients are benefitting from an impressive communication system which allows doctors to receive up to date information on patients and provide visual aids during consultation.
Imagine sitting in the doctor's office and having your updated medical history right your fingertips. The “Dr.Smart” app, which is currently available to Android users, makes that possible, and is indicative of the direction that medical tools are taking in Seoul’s modern hospitals. The app organizes medical history, immunizations, personal information like height and weight, blood pressure, allergies, prescriptions, insurance information and so much more ― all while allowing doctors the use of visual aids during patient consultations.
“Visual aids are most effective in communication, and we believe they increase confidence and understanding,” says Park, whose responsibilities include budget allocation for new technology and overseeing the integration of new systems.
“We want to make patients’ experiences go as smoothly as possible while giving them an opportunity to take an active role in keeping track of their progress.”
Though there are legal issues that prevent the disclosure of sensitive information on the Web, Park predicts that the future will bring about a more closely connected system in which patients will be able to access their own information online using instruments such as phones to understand and track their progress and he’s keen on leading the way. He is optimistic, though admits to some reservations about a “Google-savvy civilization” losing faith in trained professionals.
“At present, patients can download apps that assist with cancer treatment, fetal development, infant care and funeral arrangements ― all of which are integrated into our system at Samsung Medical center,” explains Park. “It’s only a matter of time before the system progresses to the next level-and the future is extremely exciting”.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Kelly Frances
Quelle/Source: The Korea Times, 20.02.2011
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