There are approximately 91.4 million smartphones in the U.S. This number is not surprising, considering we all know how often we use and how dependent we are on these little devices.
We use them in the elevator, car—even though outlawed in many states—while eating, walking and just about everywhere else. One of the most useful aspects of smartphones are the apps they offer. Amongst all apps, those pertaining to health are becoming more and more popular.
A 2013 survey of physicians conducted by Kantar Media found more than half of physician respondents ages 44 or younger use tablet devices for professional purposes. It is estimated that within 5 years 50 percent of mobile device users will have downloaded mobile health apps if they haven’t already.
In this article and others to follow, I will review some of the most intriguing and popular apps in ophthalmology.
This month’s article will focus on physician education.
Physician Education Apps
Atlas of Ophthalmology by Onjoph (Free)
By Voigtmann GmbH
This atlas presents clinical images of most eye diseases and is linked to the database of the ‘Atlas of Ophthalmology’, which is continuously extended by newly submitted images and is endorsed by the International Council of Ophthalmology. More than 6000 ophthalmic diagnoses and images are available from common diseases to rare. All images are peer-reviewed.
This app is available in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. This app is useful for both medical personnel and patients interested in medical information. Each image is coupled with a diagnosis and ICD-10 code with a short comment. Although the app is free, in order to use all the features, an annual subscription, which can be purchased from within the app, is necessary. This subscription renews automatically until you cancel it. This app requires iOS 7.0 or later and is compatible with the iPhone (optimal iPhone 5), iPad, and iPod touch.
Basic and Clinical Science Course Series ($785/$1,075)
By the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The BCSC series is well known to ophthalmologists around the world and contains 13 volumes of full textbooks now available as eBooks. The new eBooks enable users to download individual volumes or the entire 13 volume set for offline use.
Features include search, highlighting, note taking, bookmarking and image zoom. A faculty of more than 80 experts continually updates the content. Each of the volumes includes opportunities for earning AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
These eBooks are available at www.aao.org/bcsc, and they can be purchased as print and/or eBooks.
The eBooks can be accessed via most desktop or laptop computers, or with the free AAO eBooks app available for iPad and Android. The cost for the eBook version is $785 for Members and $1,075 for non-Members.
Note: When using an older version of the AAO eBooks app, highlights, notes and bookmarks in the app may be lost when you upgrade to iOS 7.0 due to iCloud’s inability to backup this data. To avoid this from happening, update to Version 5.0, released February 2014, of AAO eBooks before upgrading to iOS 7.0.
Physician Reference Apps
Epocrates (Free)
By Epocrates
The Epocrates app is used by nearly 50% of US physicians. The app provides clinical tools to help physicians in their practice. The Epocrates Medical Information Team collaborates with healthcare professionals each day to update the clinical intelligence provided to its users.
Among the information is the most current safety, diagnostic and treatment information, including FDA alerts, black box warnings, safety considerations, pharmacology, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic guidance for more than a thousand clinical conditions. Formulary coverage information can be accessed to avoid pharmacy callbacks. This app also has a pill identifier feature for stray pills based on the pill imprint, shape, color coating, clarity and score.
Members are connected to medical news and clinical practice guideline updates relevant to their specialty. The Provider Directory helps users find physicians all over the US for consults and patient referrals in different subspecialties. Epocrates also has a support center accessible via email or chat (M – F).
This app is available to iOS and Android users. With a $159.99 subscription, users can upgrade to ‘Go Premium’, which offers information on alternative medicine, infectious disease and more. There also is a Labs feature that interprets lab values, offers differentials, follow up recommendations, test costs, collection guides and more.
This app requires iOS 6.0 or above, a minimum available memory of 250 MB. For the Android, requirements are Firmware version of 2.3 and higher and 2.1 MB of main memory + 138 MB on the memory card. Android OS 3 is not supported.
Apps for Major Ophthalmic Congresses
Many of the international and national societies, including the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery have made their annual meeting programs available as smartphone apps. The apps allow attendees and non-attendees alike to browse the programs and create personal schedules of courses and presentations they would like to attend. They also feature maps of the convention centers and a layout of the exhibit hall.
The next part of this series on app for your ophthalmology practice will delve into additional apps for both the physician and patient, including areas for interaction over the app.