StupidiNews: There's An App For That?

TEL AVIV (Reuters) – A hospital in Israel has begun using Apple's iPad to enable medical staff to help treat patients, provide consultations and study X-rays and CT scans from afar.  

 The high resolution images allow doctors to upload and view the files at easily, and immediately.  Patients waiting in emergency rooms for a decision will now get faster and more accurate treatment.  When minutes can make the difference between life and death, there is now an option to appeal for help outside of the hospital staff.


Doctors who are not on the hospital premises can now send and receive patient information, such as X-rays, medical records and ultrasounds.  This lets medical staff make important decisions and have the information they need at their fingertips. Not only will this lead to an improved medical information transit, but it will eventually allow specialists from around the world to give input immediately, and with confidence.  Doctors can also monitor progress in real time.  While nothing will take the place of a doctor at the patient's bedside, this comes pretty darned close.  The one thing missing is mention of privacy or security, but this advance is still in its infancy.  


Here's hoping this first step is one of many towards using technology to advance medicine, not just in the labs but in real practice.