App suggestions from your colleagues

AliveCor ECG

AliveCor is preparing to commercialize what it describes as a clinical-quality, low-cost mobile ECG device" that works with iPhones to enable patients to monitor their heart health. The app also is intended for physicians to use as "an additional health assessment tool."

Eric Topol, MD, director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and one of the device's testers, used it to help determine that a fellow passenger on an airplane was experiencing a heart attack. Prenotification clearance on the devices from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still pending.

iTriage

The app iTriage enables a patient to take action if he or she is experiencing a possible symptom of a health-related problem. The app's "Symptom to Provider" pathway lets users look up their symptom(s), learn get information about their possible causes, discover the most appropriate treatment path, and locate the closest appropriate healthcare provider.

The "Symptom to Provider" pathway also includes a nationwide director of hospital emergency departments, urgent care centers, pharmacies, and nurse advice lines.

Download: http://www.itriagehealth.com/get-mobile

Withings

With the nation's obesity rate continuing to soar, the app from Withings enables lets patients quick access data about their weight and body mass index (BMI). The app works in conjunction with a WiFi scale that measures weight and lean and fat mass.

The app presents the data in a graphical interface for easy viewing form. Then it displays BMI and situates the user's data in relation to healthy ranges tailored to the user. The app's dashboard can store and display data for up to eight users.

Download: http://itunes.apple.com/app/id542701020

Orca health

A broad array of apps from Orca Health are designed to help your patients make better-informed decisions about their healthcare. Separate apps are available for the spine; aging spine; breast; eye; ear, nose, and throat; face; hand; foot; shoulder; and heart. An additional app covers children's dental health education. Each app contains a tab labeled anatomy, condition, and specialist. Using medical images and annotations, the app describes each condition, discusses symptoms and findings, and gives treatment recommendations based on best practices.

Download: http://www.orcahealth.com/