| Baby Boomers are trashing their simple, | | | | Once reserved for the clinical environment, |
| Jitterbug-ish handsets and staying in touch with | | | | professional-grade hearing tests, food trackers, |
| Blackberrys and iPhones more than ever before; | | | | medication alarms and other apps are making |
| a trend that's not lost on the cost-conscious eyes | | | | their way into the smart phone mainstream. |
| of leaders within the healthcare industry. | | | | Insurance companies and hospitals hope they lead |
| This new power generation of slowly aging but | | | | to significant cost-cuts to their bottom lines while |
| connected consumers is the target of a slew of | | | | emphasizing wellness as part of their policy |
| new handheld applications now in development | | | | holders' daily routines. |
| that do everything from provide one-touch | | | | Healthcare providers and doctors were among |
| access to health and wellness information to | | | | the first consumers to take desktop medical |
| registering blood sugar levels, scheduling reminders | | | | applications into their palms, since mobility and 24 |
| for medication, tracking patient heart rates and | | | | 7 schedules made it virtually impossible to track |
| on-demand video chat via handheld with doctors | | | | patient care without the aid of software. The |
| and nurses. As these phones continue to get | | | | most common physician and health care provider |
| even more powerful than they already are, WiFi | | | | apps now include: |
| healthcare will continue to rise. | | | | · Drug databases |
| Icyou, a new start-up company that primarily | | | | · Medical calculators |
| manages and provides content for several | | | | · Reference programs |
| Internet video libraries, recently announced the | | | | · Decision support for both physicians and |
| availability of its iPhone application. The app allows | | | | nurses |
| users to navigate the company site for health | | | | · Tracking patient stats (weight, blood |
| information and download videos for viewing | | | | pressure, etc.) |
| away from home. Everything from emergency | | | | · Patient history accessing, managing, and |
| CPR lessons to motivational fitness videos are | | | | documenting |
| now a touch screen away. | | | | · Communication managers |
| Among the more unique health-related applications | | | | · Payer tools (coding, eligibility |
| for smart phones is My Life Record, a $50 | | | | determination, etc.) |
| application that allows you to manage and access | | | | Chronic disease support companies, whose |
| medical records including doctor information and | | | | business model is built around call centers staffed |
| images such as X-rays, ultrasounds and | | | | with registered nurses, are also re-thinking how |
| electrocardiograms. The company says in spite of | | | | they provide service. Some industry analysts say |
| its relatively high cost (when compared to other | | | | online chat via smart phones will become the |
| apps that typically cost about a dollar), the | | | | norm since their typical patient base is living longer |
| software has grown in popularity since its | | | | and not necessarily confined to their homes. |
| introduction to the iPhone platform a year ago. | | | | |