It is not uncommon to see doctors and nurses using mobile devices including smart phones and tablets openly in a ward environment these days, whereas less than a decade ago you would be frowned upon if you were so much as glancing at a device in a hospital. Signs saying ‘switch mobile phones off’ were common place.
As mobile technology becomes more sophisticated, apps are tipped as a primary method to deliver simple, effective and personalised information to both healthcare professionals and patients, while minimising costs. Apps can be developed to fulfil a range of different functions, so it’s not difficult to imagine a range of areas within healthcare that could benefit from an app, including training and development, health promotion and sharing best practice.
Innovation and technology combined have the potential to revolutionise the health service. Publicly-available apps such as the NHS Direct ‘Health and Symptom Checker’ app encourage a pro-active approach by members of the public towards their own health. N.I.C.E are one of many organisations who have developed free apps for health and social care professionals who work for or who are contracted by the NHS in England, Scotland and Wales.
In this discussion we’ll be asking; are you a technophobic? If you are, then you would not be reading this but I bet you know of someone who is. Is there a place for technology in healthcare? Are you an advocate of technology in healthcare? Do you use any apps in your job? What are the advantages/disadvantages of using health apps? Are you encouraged to make use of healthcare apps? What other technologies do you believe would benefit you in your place of work? Should we encourage patients to make more use of apps?
Join us for the discussion on Tues 5th February 2013 at 8pm GMT.
NICE – apps for smartphones and tablets
Nursing Times 31 Mar 2012 – NICE launches smart phone app for quick guidance access
Nursing Times 22 Jan 2013 – Nurse-led unit to display profiles of staff and patients
The Guardian 21 Aug 2012 – The benefit of apps in healthcare
Nursing Times 31 Aug 2012 – Nurses warned not to use own phones at work
You must log in to post a comment.