In 1969, a computer responsible for what likely ranks in many people’s minds as one of the greatest feats in the history of mankind helped three men to complete a mission that left people around the world awestruck. Of course the event was the moon landing and the men, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong used a computer guidance system that had 64 Kbyte of memory, operated at 0.043MHz and a fancy display that was entirely numeric. At 70 pounds and about two feet by a foot and over six inches thick, there was little worry that they’d leave the system in a restaurant by accident, or forget to take it out of a pocket before sitting down.

Today, the processor speed for the iPhone 6 is a 1.4 GHz A8 dual core processor with 1 Gb of RAM, but these specifications don’t really do justice to the difference between the Apollo-era computers and today’s in terms of power or capability. And the iPhone would slip neatly into the breast pocket of a spacesuit.

Patient care and tracking
With a positive patient experience being more important than ever, it pays to pay attention to some consumer-centric apps that may help deliver on a happy patient promise. Here are a few that may make that a reality:

Microsoft Health Vault
Produced by: Microsoft Corporation
Price: Free
Version: 2.2.1
Last Updated: Oct. 24, 2014
Works on: 251 devices
While largely targeted at consumers, MHV is actually quite useful for medical professionals as well since it helps patients file and organize pertinent information about their health. It provides a place to track and store information on medications, lab results, X-rays and more. Having this information at hand can save time, prevent redundant tests and imaging procedures and ultimately lead to a better patient experience.

PingMD
Produced by: PINGMD, INC.
Price: Free
Version: 2.2.1
Last Updated: Nov. 10, 2014
Works on: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android
PingMD, unlike MHV, is marketed to health care professionals, but with the intention of having those professionals use the app to connect with patients in order to track symptom progression, post-procedure follow-up, disease management or to answer follow-up questions.

Reference
If you have a hobby like building ships-in-a-bottle or collecting signed baseballs, the bookshelves in your office may be open for display if you go with some reference apps. With the glut of information available with just a few swipes of the finger over your smart-phone, the volumes of reference materials taking up shelf space should be a thing of the past. Here are some to check out:

UpToDate
Produced by: Wolters Kluwer Health
Price: Free
Version: 2.0.1
Last updated: Mar. 03, 2015
Works on:
UpToDate is a resource that has helped support health care professionals with clinical decisions by providing evidence-based resources for more than 20 years. The service offers more than 9,000 evidence-based and graded recommendations as well as more than 140 medical calculators, 5,200 drug entries, 27,000 graphics and almost 1,500 patient topics.

Isabel
Produced by: Isabel Healthcare Ltd.
Price: $2.99 weekly, $10.99 monthly or $119.99 for a full year
Version: 1.6
Last updated: Jan. 15, 2014
Works on: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android
Isabel is essentially a diagnosis search engine that helps users determine what disease a patient is suffering from by searching a database of more than 6,000 diseases, to match up presentation by signs and symptoms. Searches can be customized to include age and gender as well as travel history.

ICD-10 Virtual Codebook
Produced by: Precyse Advanced Technologies
LLC
Price: Free
Version: 3.0.3
Last updated: Aug 16, 2014
Works on: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android
Although ICD-10 implementation has been delayed repeatedly over the years, it will eventually happen. So why not be prepared? This app is one among many that have received high user ratings, but it has one of the more recent updates. Users can enter terms, disease names or condition names and the app will track down corresponding ICD-10 codes. It also offers documentation tips to ensure the coding is matched with proper documentation, to help health care professionals avoid billing problems later.

Collaboration
While there’s nothing like meeting face-to-face, when time is short that’s not always an option. New networking and collaboration apps will probably result in quieter phones at travel agencies across the country. Here are some of the apps responsible:

Doximity
Produced by: Doximity Inc.
Price: Free
Version: 9.2.2
Last updated: Jan 19, 2015
Works on: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android
Doximity is a networking app for physicians. The app is the number one networking app for physicians, with more than 50 percent of U.S. doctors as members, according to the company’s website. Doximity offers members the opportunity to earn continuing medical education units when they review articles updated twice each month. The app also enables physicians to get more consulting opportunities and an e-fax number for each member. The e-fax meets HIPAA requirements and allows members to send and receive faxes on any mobile device.

Emergency Department
In the medical arena, wasted time can be the difference between life and death, yet the wrong decision can be just as bad, or worse. These apps help provide fast answers for perplexed physicians:

ERres
Produced by: Denali Apps, LLC
Price: $4.99 (one-time charge with all future updates included)
Version: 5.5
Last updated: Jan 08, 2015
Works on: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android
ERres is a handy app for the ER professional. It offers a number of tools including calculators, medication lists, clinical policies and other information useful to emergency care professionals.

PalmPEDi
Produced by: PalmER Worldwide LLC
Price: $2.99
Version: 4.0
Last updated: Oct 10, 2013
Works on: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android
For use by doctors, nurses, EMS teams and others treating children in an emergency situation, palmPEDi is a pediatric resuscitation reference. The information is sectioned by age and weight ranges and includes information about normal vitals, central line and peripheral IV sizes and more.
Drug and Medications
With thousands of drugs on the market and the potential for adverse reactions or no reaction, it’s impossible for a physician to keep track of it all. Many have their go-to prescriptions, but for those looking to get precise information to increase the likelihood of a desirable patient outcome, there are some apps that can help:

EMRA PressorDex
Produced by: Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association
Price: $16.99
Version: 1.1.0
Last updated: Dec 11, 2014
Works on: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android
Introduced in 2013, and a recent update at the end of 2014, make PressorDex a great guide for professionals who want to track down information on pressors, vasoactive drugs, continuous infusions and other treatment options for critically ill patients.

2015 EMRA Antibiotic Guide
Produced by: Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association
Price: $16.99
Version: 1.3.0
Last updated: Feb 05, 2015
Works on: iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Android
From the maker of PressorDex, this antibiotic guide categorizes antibiotic searches by organ, diagnosis or organism. Based on EMRA’s print version of their antibiotic guide.