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Apple iPhone Becomes a Patient Safety Device with Epocrates
Top Healthcare App Developer Shares User Data and Stories
September 15, 2008 - In a few short months, thousands of
applications have appeared in the Apple App store. While the
majority of the top applications are games and social
networking, healthcare applications have been gaining momentum
and are generating buzz among healthcare professionals and
patients alike.
Having been featured during the initial Apple SDK announcement,
Epocrates, Inc. was among the first to launch its highly
anticipated application in the healthcare category. In the first
month of availability, its Epocrates Rx drug and formulary
software for the iPhone was downloaded by more than 125,000
users, including 25,000 U.S. physicians. The company conducted
surveys among 607 physicians and consumers to evaluate how the
iPhone is being used to support clinical decisions and ensure
medication safety.
In Clinical Practice
More than 70 percent of physicians surveyed said the
availability of Epocrates on the iPhone was important in their
purchasing decision. The majority use Epocrates to practice
safer medicine by reportedly helping them prescribe accurate
drug dosages, identify adverse reactions or check for potential
drug interactions. Additional key findings include:
-
Nearly 80 percent report using Epocrates during patient visits
and sharing drug safety information with their patients
-
Patient reaction is positive with the majority feeling more
confident their provider is confirming clinical information, and
a subset (39 percent) reports receiving admiration for using the
"latest cool technology"
-
More than 70 percent of physicians report using Epocrates at
least once per day, and half plan to use it more in the future.
In addition, 90 percent believe all healthcare professionals
should use a clinical reference, such as Epocrates
Consumer Driven Healthcare
Though Epocrates software is primarily used by healthcare
professionals, an increasing number of consumers find value in
the product as they become more involved in medical care.
Thousands of consumers have downloaded the free drug reference
to their iPhone to monitor their personal healthcare (67
percent) or manage family care (23 percent). According to survey
results, consumers are primarily using Epocrates to check for
interactions between medications, or become more informed about
potential side effects or risks. Other survey findings include:
-
60 percent of consumers report using the drug identification
tool; some even report using it to clean out their medicine
cabinet
-
65 percent of consumers have or will recommend Epocrates to
their provider, and a quarter already spoke with their physician
about information they found in Epocrates – several reporting a
changed prescription as a result
-
The majority of consumers also feel that healthcare
professionals should use a clinical reference in practice. As a
survey participant succinctly stated, "no one can remember
everything all the time!"
Other Professional Needs
Beyond physicians and consumers, other professionals report
using Epocrates at their jobs. A school guidance counselor,
lawyer or police officer may be seen pulling out their iPhone
device loaded with Epocrates software. These non-healthcare
professionals have reported using the clinical reference to
identify mystery pills or solve a criminal case.
SURVEY BACKGROUND
Two surveys were conducted by Epocrates, Inc. among 303 U.S.
physicians and 304 consumers registered with the company.
Participants downloaded Epocrates Rx for the iPhone/iPod touch
from the Apple App store within first week of product launch and
completed the survey in August 2008. For full survey results or
to speak with a participant for firsthand experiences using
Epocrates for the iPhone platform, please contact
pr@epocrates.com.
CONTACT:
Erica Sniad Morgenstern
Epocrates Public Relations
PHONE: (650) 227-6907
E-MAIL: pr@epocrates.com
WEB: www.epocrates.com |
