12 Top Health Apps From Uncle Sam
Choosing a mobile app that tracks health or offers help in emergency situations can prove challenging. The U.S. government's recent digital initiative has prompted federal agencies to create free apps for clinicians and patients.
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Suppose you're a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and you want to learn relaxation techniques to deal with daily stress. Or you're a nursing mother concerned about the effects of certain drugs on breast milk. Thanks to the U.S. Digital Government Strategy, introduced in May by the Office of Management and Budget, you have access to more than 100 free mobile applications, many of which target health issues and specific medical conditions. The government is making it easier for doctors and first responders, too; the apps have been integrated with federal agencies' online guidelines, databases, and emergency services, such as 911 and hurricane shelters.
Mobile apps are expected to generate $15.9 billion in end-user spending this year, according to Gartner. However, only 11% of all adult cellphone users downloaded health-related apps in 2011, a number that hasn't significantly changed since 2010, according to a separate study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The Digital Government Strategy aims to improve that statistic.
Federal agencies regularly add free health and medical apps to the government's official Web portal, USA.gov. The initiative's broader goal is to provide the American public with high-quality information and to encourage innovation in the mobile space. The agencies have already built mobile apps for the Apple, Android, and BlackBerry operating systems, and according to USA.gov, more devices will be supported in the future.
Tech-savvy clinicians and patients aren't the only ones to benefit from the government's mobile program. Many organizations are developing apps to provide better health services to members, but it's a costly undertaking that smaller firms with limited budgets can't afford. Free government apps are a great resource for care management and personal health record providers because they don't cost anything to develop and they come from a reputable source.
IT managers can recommend such mobile apps through their member portals as an additional resource for patients. For example, a clinician might advise a patient suffering from anxiety who has completed a health risk assessment (HRA) to download an app for practicing breathing exercises. What's more, if the data supplied by such users can be saved and exported, as is possible with most medical apps, IT managers can build smarter systems for health recommendations and similar services.
Federal agencies also want to ensure that apps dealing with health and medical needs don't put consumers at risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed the regulation of such apps. The FDA draft guidelines, released in July 2011, address a small fraction of programs, such as those that are "used as an accessory to a medical device already regulated by the FDA" or those that "transform a mobile communications device into a regulated medical device by using attachments, sensors, or other devices." Most health and medical apps, however, will not require any government testing or approval; it's up to consumers to use their best judgment. These tools are not meant for self-diagnosis or treatment unless directed by a physician.
InformationWeek Healthcare has been closely following the emergence of "mobile government." Here, we focus on 12 health and medical apps from federal agencies, selected based on an overall user rating of four stars or more. The featured apps are free and therefore accessible to all consumers and professionals with supported mobile devices.
PTSD Coach was designed for veterans and military service members who have--or might have--post-traumatic stress disorder. The app educates users about PTSD and provides self-assessment tools. In addition to finding support, users can access tools for managing daily stress, practicing relaxation skills, and learning common self-help strategies. The highly rated app--available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices--can be customized, so those suffering from PTSD can use their own contacts, photos, and music to get a more personalized experience. PTSD Coach, which was created by the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD in collaboration with Department of Defense's National Center for Telehealth and Technology, is intended both for people who are in treatment and those who aren't.
Most consumers worry about food safety. That's why the Department of Agriculture developed Ask Karen, an app that offers virtual assistance and tips on preventing foodborne illness. Available for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, Ask Karen lets users chat live with food safety experts on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST. Consumers can get answers about the safe handling, storage, and preparation of meat, poultry, and egg products.
The Environmental Protection Agency's AIRNow is especially useful to those living in large cities, where air quality is often poor due to ozone and fine-particle pollution. The iPhone and iPad app provides real-time information on air quality, including location-specific forecast reports and air quality maps from AIRNow's website. Users can also get an explanation of health effects and what actions to take when the air quality level is code orange, for instance.
When ultraviolet radiation levels get high, EPA's UV Index app warns consumers when they've had enough sun exposure. Powered by the National Weather Service, the app delivers a daily and hourly forecast of the expected intensity of UV radiation nationwide. Hourly forecasts are color-coded (green, orange, red, and yellow) to represent low, moderate, and high UV intensity. The app lists the risks of overexposure to the sun and reminds users to take precautions, such as wearing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. UV Index is available for the Apple, Android, and BlackBerry platforms.
Stress is a common source of anxiety for Americans. The U.S. Department of Defense has created a portable stress management tool, which consumers can use to practice breathing exercises for relaxation. Breathe2Relax helps with mood stabilization, anger control, and anxiety management. The app, available for iPhone, iPad, and Android, can be used as a standalone stress reduction aid or in tandem with clinical care. It also includes a reference guide on the effects of stress on the body and instructions for dealing with stress.
People living with HIV/AIDS, and their families, now have a mobile glossary from the Department of Health and Human Services that explains the disease in simple language. AIDSinfo Glossary contains more than 850 complex terms defined in English and Spanish. The iPhone and iPad app is also a useful resource for healthcare providers, caseworkers, and community-based organizations.
LactMed is an app for nursing mothers who want to know the effects of particular drugs and dietary supplements on breastfeeding. Part of the National Library of Medicine's Toxicology Data Network, the database includes information on the levels of various substances in breast milk and infant blood, as well as possible adverse effects on babies. LactMed not only houses a library of drugs that breastfeeding mothers may be exposed to, but it also suggests alternate drugs. The app--available for iPhone, iPad, and Android--is organized into substance-specific records, which are derived from scientific literature.
Identifying hazardous substances during an emergency can be a matter of life and death--that's the idea behind WISER, an app developed by the National Library of Medicine. WISER helps users recognize unknown substances and learn what to do in the event of exposure to those substances. The app extracts data from NLM's Hazardous Substances Data Bank, a peer-reviewed information resource. Some of WISER's features include a map of the incident, a visual representation of a substance's effects on the human body, and profiles that identify the app user's role: first responder, Hazmat, or emergency medical services (EMS). The app can be downloaded on Android, Apple, and BlackBerry devices.
First Aid by American Red Cross is one of the newest medical apps listed on USA.gov. (Although the app is included on the government's site, the American Red Cross is a charitable organization, not a government agency.) The app comes with videos, safety tips, interactive quizzes, and step-by-step advice to help users deal with everyday first aid scenarios. Since phone reception and/or Internet connections are not always available in an emergency situation, the content in First Aid is preloaded so users always have access to information. Users also have the option of dialing 911 directly from the app, which is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
The American Red Cross' Shelter View iPhone/iPad app maps locations--by address--of disaster emergency shelters that are open to provide assistance across the United States. Users can zoom in to an area, view shelter details, and check a shelter's capacity. The app relies on data from the American Red Cross National Shelter System, which lists approximately 60,000 disaster facilities.
mTBI Pocket Guide, for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, is a resource for people suffering from mild traumatic brain injury, a condition that may cause communication and thinking problems. Created by the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, the app is geared toward service members and veterans. Clinicians can use it as a reference to recognize and manage patients' symptoms, and the app's interactive decision trees help identify the best interventions for patients. mTBI Pocket Guide reflects current clinical standards of care, including guidelines from the U.S. Department of Defense. A key feature is the ICD-9 coding wizard, a documentation tool for providers.
The American Red Cross has teamed up with Dr. Oz and Sharecare, an interactive website where industry experts answer consumer health and wellness questions, to develop S.O.S., step-by-step emergency instructional videos for Android smartphones. The S.O.S. Android app provides emergency protocols and guides, such as 3-D animations and visual demonstrations for the general public. Popular TV personality and surgeon Dr. Oz voices each instructional video describing how to provide care in urgent situations. Users, for example, can learn the basics of CPR and practice compressions using the visual and audio cues in S.O.S.
The American Red Cross has teamed up with Dr. Oz and Sharecare, an interactive website where industry experts answer consumer health and wellness questions, to develop S.O.S., step-by-step emergency instructional videos for Android smartphones. The S.O.S. Android app provides emergency protocols and guides, such as 3-D animations and visual demonstrations for the general public. Popular TV personality and surgeon Dr. Oz voices each instructional video describing how to provide care in urgent situations. Users, for example, can learn the basics of CPR and practice compressions using the visual and audio cues in S.O.S.
Suppose you're a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and you want to learn relaxation techniques to deal with daily stress. Or you're a nursing mother concerned about the effects of certain drugs on breast milk. Thanks to the U.S. Digital Government Strategy, introduced in May by the Office of Management and Budget, you have access to more than 100 free mobile applications, many of which target health issues and specific medical conditions. The government is making it easier for doctors and first responders, too; the apps have been integrated with federal agencies' online guidelines, databases, and emergency services, such as 911 and hurricane shelters.
Mobile apps are expected to generate $15.9 billion in end-user spending this year, according to Gartner. However, only 11% of all adult cellphone users downloaded health-related apps in 2011, a number that hasn't significantly changed since 2010, according to a separate study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The Digital Government Strategy aims to improve that statistic.
Federal agencies regularly add free health and medical apps to the government's official Web portal, USA.gov. The initiative's broader goal is to provide the American public with high-quality information and to encourage innovation in the mobile space. The agencies have already built mobile apps for the Apple, Android, and BlackBerry operating systems, and according to USA.gov, more devices will be supported in the future.
Tech-savvy clinicians and patients aren't the only ones to benefit from the government's mobile program. Many organizations are developing apps to provide better health services to members, but it's a costly undertaking that smaller firms with limited budgets can't afford. Free government apps are a great resource for care management and personal health record providers because they don't cost anything to develop and they come from a reputable source.
IT managers can recommend such mobile apps through their member portals as an additional resource for patients. For example, a clinician might advise a patient suffering from anxiety who has completed a health risk assessment (HRA) to download an app for practicing breathing exercises. What's more, if the data supplied by such users can be saved and exported, as is possible with most medical apps, IT managers can build smarter systems for health recommendations and similar services.
Federal agencies also want to ensure that apps dealing with health and medical needs don't put consumers at risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed the regulation of such apps. The FDA draft guidelines, released in July 2011, address a small fraction of programs, such as those that are "used as an accessory to a medical device already regulated by the FDA" or those that "transform a mobile communications device into a regulated medical device by using attachments, sensors, or other devices." Most health and medical apps, however, will not require any government testing or approval; it's up to consumers to use their best judgment. These tools are not meant for self-diagnosis or treatment unless directed by a physician.
InformationWeek Healthcare has been closely following the emergence of "mobile government." Here, we focus on 12 health and medical apps from federal agencies, selected based on an overall user rating of four stars or more. The featured apps are free and therefore accessible to all consumers and professionals with supported mobile devices.
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