Think you’re the only one staying ahead of the mobile technology curve? Guess again…doctors are taking advantage of the convenience of mobile technologies too!  The infographic below provides an interesting view of how doctors are using mobile technologies, but please keep in mind that the primary purpose of infographics is to entertain and that the statistics should be taken with a grain of salt.

At the point of care, doctors are using mobile technologies primarily to access electronic medical records, prescribe medications, and monitor patients in hospitals.  Doctors can use their devices bedside to show patients high resolution videos of what their procedures will be like.  Current mobile technologies allow doctors to view or send CT, MRI, and PET scans, allowing them to remotely consult with specialists.  Using attachments like theHandyscope, doctors can turn their mobile device into a digital dermatoscope, allowing them to take up-close photos for early skin cancer screenings.

For our part, libraries are attempting to make their online content easily available on mobile technologies.  Medical and drug reference databases, electronic journal access, and easy access to research librarians ensure that doctors are getting the most reliable, up-to-date information available on their mobile device.  Laupus Library has access to several medical databases designed specifically for mobile devices; DynaMed, Micromedex, PubMed for Handhelds, and RefMobile are a few of the most popular mobile resources we offer.

Though it may seem shocking that two in five physicians spend time online during patient consultations, we have entered a technological era that will ultimately improve patient quality.  Beyond being a convenience, mobile technologies can be used to guarantee that patients are receiving the best medical care possible, and can reduce medical errors by modernizing the health care system.  While we hope doctors are not using their iPhones to update their Facebook status during a patient’s consultation, we do want them to have immediate access to the most current diagnostic and treatment options for any given medical condition.

Just imagine what doctors will be able to do with their mobile devices a mere five or ten years down the road…are you ready?

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Image Source: SpinaBifidaInfo.com