Physician Disability: How Physicians Use Smartphones
Smartphones have been rapidly integrated into many different industries- but how can they be used in medical practice? Mobile phones today have the potential to aid physicians in day to day administrative tasks, such as email access, and in some ways have expanded the ways physicians can care for their patients.
This post is provided to you by Doctors Disability, a Physician Disability provider.
Smartphones are highly popular among physicians. According to MedPage Today, a 2011 survey found that 81% of physicians said they own a mobile device. Half of those who didn’t have one planned to purchase a smartphone one within a year.
The first benefit is mobility. They can access drug and treatment reference materials instantly, which is especially helpful if a physician is on call or away from the office. Remote access to EHRs means a physician can pull up a patient’s information wherever they are. Conference calls can be fitted into the schedule from a smartphone without disrupting the office.
This mobility can help overall practice management as well. On-call physicians covering for a partner can get immediate access to a patient’s treatment plan, and maintain the continuity of their care.
Smartphones not only increases their access on the go, it provides physicians with more flexibility to control their own schedule, and maintain a healthy work-life balance, which can improve patient care.
In the smartphone market, Apple dominated physicians’ choice in technology. 75% of survey respondents purchased an iPhone.
Have you integrated a smartphone into your practice? If so, how? We’d love to hear from you!
Physician disability insurance covers the tracks that workers comp doesn’t cover. It is designed to replace a significant portion of income lost when illness or injury prevents the policyholder from earning a living. If you have a family to take care of, or medical school loans, being unable to work could be a significant financial hardship.