New Tablet Computer Options Offer Choices for Medical Community

Updates to tablet computer technology and a surge in new devices, such as Apple’s iPad, have observers wondering whether physicians will make tablets their mobile device of choice, American Medical News reports.

Use of Tablet Devices

Since the iPad was released in January 2010, several health care initiatives have been launched using the tool. For example:

• Georgetown University has provided iPads to surgeons to use in operating rooms;
• Skilled nursing facility operator RehabCare deployed iPads throughout its system;
• Stanford University School of Medicine has given iPads to students; and
• Many physicians have adopted the devices for various uses.

Eighty different tablet models are expected to be released in the next year to compete with the iPad, which will give health care providers more choices.

Meanwhile, numerous vendors of electronic health record systems are developing applications that allow physicians to access EHRs through a tablet.

Uncertain Future

Although using cloud-based EHRs means patient data would not be stored on a tablet, organizations still must develop ways to secure the devices, according to American Medical News. Hospitals are expressing concern about the implications of widespread adoption of such devices because of possible security risks to medical data.

In addition, many physicians say that despite the usefulness of tablets, they can never fully replace desktop computers. Some doctors note that information input on the iPad is best restricted to brief note-taking because of its small touch-screen keyboard.

In addition, Brian Reed — chief marketing officer and vice president of products for mobility management company BoxTone — said he does not expect tablets to replace smart phones, largely due to the convenience of the smaller devices (Dolan, American Medical News, 2/7).

Source: iHealthBeat