The Impact of Mobile Technology on the Clinician Experience

Advancements in mobile technology are increasingly making many aspects of everyday life much easier. Today, people can easily request a cab ride, pay for coffee, and even board an airplane with a simple tap of a button on a cellphone. Mobile technology has become mainstream, providing us with new communication platforms and streamlining business processes like never before.

This advancement in mobile technology is spilling over into personal wellness. Patients now have several new tools introduced in recent years to help achieve and maintain wellness, including apps for fitness, diet and mindfulness. Other mobile apps provide disease education and help patients communicate with trusted resources, such as advocacy groups and healthcare providers. Previously, patients were dependent upon doctors for any knowledge or information regarding their health but now, thanks to these recent technological innovations, patients have a newfound sense of empowerment.

As patients are becoming more active in their doctor appointments and in the setting of health goals with the help of mobile apps, physicians are also incorporating new tools into the way they practice medicine.

The advent of new, innovative devices and handy apps are helping doctors do their job with greater efficiency, speed and accuracy. This often allows for physicians and clinicians to deliver more personalized care. One such app, the iOn Healing App by Acelity, provides useful features for wound care clinicians, including the ability to request a product consult and order certain therapies while instantly submitting a valid prescription which must accompany each order, submitting patient wound metrics, and viewing product guides specific to their care setting. On the app, clinicians can quickly and easily share wound descriptions and images in a secure manner to discuss potential treatment options, which can be an important time saver for busy clinicians. The app was designed and developed based on clinician input and meets the highest standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 

The use of mobile technology will continue to grow and enhance the way we all interact with our healthcare providers. The iOn Healing App, free for both iOS and Android platforms, is one such example of a recent technology advancement that may have a positive effect on the clinical setting by providing clinicians with new tools and innovative methods to practice medicine.