Express Plus Medicare

This app is sold by the Australian Government Department of Human Services, and is available for free on both iOS and Android. In order to use the app, purchasers need to be registered for Medicare Online Services and have a MyGov account.

The app is a way to access a range Medicare services. Users are able to: request a replacement or duplicate Medicare card, view and update contact and banking information, store statements in the secure vault, find Medicare service centres. They are also able to view their Medicare card details, Medicare Benefit Tax Statement, Children’s Immunisation History Statements, Medicare Safety Net information and receipt history. Possibly the most useful feature of the app is being able to make medicare claims.There are 25 items that can be claimed using the app that do not require the customer to upload a receipt, all other claims require the use to upload a receipt to support the claim.

This category of health apps improve patients ability to access and utilise the health care initiatives provided by the government. These initiatives improve equality of access to health resources and medicines, thereby benefiting patient care as they are able to receive the optimum treatment.

For more information and app screenshots go to:
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/express-plus-medicare/id648134521?mt=8

WebMD APP

This app is sold by the WebMD Health Corporation for use on both iOS and Android.

This app provides access to health information and decision-support tools. The app has a range of key features. The WebMD Symptom Checker, allows the user to select a part of the body, choose symptoms, & learn about potential conditions or issues. The app also allows the user to search by condition and displays medically reviewed information about the conditions causes, treatments, & related symptoms. Similarly, drugs and treatments can be searched, resulting in content such as Uses, Side Effects and Warnings. A Pill Identification Tool allows the user to identify medicines by pill shape, color, & imprint. The First Aid function shows treatment tips in medical emergencies, from insect stings to broken bones. Finally, Local Health Listings allow the user to find the closest physician, hospital, & pharmacy based on current location or search by city, state or post code.

This app offers a range of useful support tools and health information for users. In regards to patient care, it is critical that apps of this nature do not replace advice from a medical professional, as symptoms may be the result of a range of conditions, physical tests often need to be carried out and advice and treatment is personalised individuals health status and history. The use of these apps often results self diagnosis, which may be skewed or incorrect, resulting in a decreased health status and a delay in the attainment of the correct treatment.

For more information and screenshots of the app go to:
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/webmd-trusted-health-wellness/id295076329?mt=8

OPSM Eye Check

This app is developed by OPSM which is well known for their retailer of eye glasses in Australia and other countries. This app is currently in the top free apps under the health and fitness category in iTunes and its free to download in both iOS and android smartphone and tablets .

Once the apps is launched, user is brought upon a clean/sharp looking menu. The menu consist of 5 option as shown above. The main function of this app is OPSM eyes check which contain many eyes check tests such as:

• Visual Acuity
• Colour vision
• Astigmatism
• contrast
• Distance vision

Each test contain clear and easy instruction to follow and the test does not take much time to complete. After finishing a test, user is given a result in term of risks and from there user can also make an appointment for an eye test at their local stores. In addition, user can do some online shopping while in the booking page. The main advantage of this app is that it allow user to do quick eye check however the fact that it only received 2.5/5 rating means that the app still need a lot of improvement but overall I’ll still recommend you to download this app because it is easy and fun to use.

Doctor at Home

This app is sold by Supriya Shah and is available for free on Android.

Doctor At Home is an app focused on the consumer which provides home remedies for some common found diseases and illnesses such as cold, asthma, headache, vomiting etc.

Doctor at Home provides best home remedies for user with picture of remedy. It shows that, these common diseases can be treated by using easily available things at home like grapes, lemon, ginger etc.

The disadvantages of this app that the sources of the information found in this app is unclear. In addition, the developer of the app warns users to use the information at their own risk, she/he is not responsible for anything that may occur as a result of trying any provided remedy on the app.

For more information

Doctor At Home falls short in providing trusted consumer health information

http://www.androidpit.com/en/android/market/apps/app/com.exp.Doctor_at_home/Doctor-At-Home

Priceline Pharmacy App: Health and Beauty

This app is sold by Salmat Ltd and it goes under lifestyle Category. This app is available for iPhone & Android users by free. It is designed to make it easier for the customer to see what is on Priceline Pharmacy whether they at home or out.

The mean features of this app are catalogues, brands, search and stores. Firstly, Catalogues show specials offer and sales. Secondly, Brands display a huge list that is alphabetically ordered of different brands such as beauty brands ( make up, beauty essentials and perfumes) and brand drugs names such as ( Panadol and Nature’s Own). Thirdly, Search area for the best deals around the customer distention. Finally, Stores which provide location of the nearest store to the customers and also display a map.

This app provides a picture of the drug with the price, Terms & Conditions, date of use & the expired day. However, it does not provide instruction of use, for example:  age, number of caplets that recommend and how often the customers should use it.

The rating of this app was 4, some customers believe it an excellent app. Others believe it is useless because it displays the special offers but it does not display all products in store.

Therefore, this app is great for busy customers to see what are the latest offers and sales.  It is recommended that the seller of this app should update with more products with clear instruction of how to use it for more improvements.

For more information and screen shots of this app go to:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/priceline/id367984102?mt=8

Kinsa

This app is sold by Transform Health Inc and is available on both iOS and Android.

Kinsa is an oral thermometer that plugs into an iPhone and collects and tracks temperature data through an app to make an illness history. Kinsa aims to create a real-time map of human health beginning with infectious illness. The It has no screen or LED on it and all data is fed into the iPhone and is displayed via the Kinsa app. Kinsa smart thermometer requires 10 seconds to take a temperature reading. The app alerts the patient when the measurement is completed. It can be used like a regular thermometer to measure the temperature in the rectum, under the tongue, or under the arm. Kinsa allow the patients to share their data with Physician and to compare symptoms to what’s going around in the local area.

In addition, The Kinsa app makes the entire process less stressful for patients by showing fun and relaxing animations on the smartphone screen during a temperature measurement.

video for Kinsa Smart Thermometer

Overall, the app will allow patients to join private groups to benefit their family and community members to communicate information on illnesses spreading.

The Kinsa thermometer is cost only $14.99 and is shipped in April 2014.

For more information

Kinsa is a thermometer that connects to your iPhone

http://www.medgadget.com/2014/01/kinsa-health-gains-fda-approval-for-smartphone-connected-thermometer.html

GoodRx

This app is sold by GoodRx,Inc and is available for free on both iOS and Android.

The GoodRx app was designed to get the best local deals and discounts for any prescription medications. Some medications can be very expensive, and cost is one of the reasons that avoid patients from taking their prescriptions on time and being healthy. This app is great for long term medication for many patient which can assist them to save their money. In addition, many patients may not understand the different prices that are available for medications that they take daily. Moreover, it can an advantage for physicians by allowing them to help their patients stay compliant with medications. Furthermore, the app is very easy to use. The starting screen allows the user to type in the name of the medicine to search for. Then, it lets the user enter the location they are trying to find the best prices for it.

The rate of this app was 4.75/5. Some user believe that the app was extremely easy to use and Has lots of information about prices, ways to save money on medications, and shows the closest pharmacies for a given location and their price.However, other patients were disappointed with their pharmacy. They said that some pharmacies did not confirm the discount price without an actual prescription.

Overall, the app is great but it is recommended that patients need to contact with the pharmacy to make sure they would offer the discounted price.

For more information

GoodRx helps patients find the best prices, coupons and discounts for medications

iTriage App

iTriage is an app that helps in providing information that helps you in traveling within the United States of America. I found this app helpful because it can contain your in health insurance information, health record, your appointments, health care providers and all your past medical information. You could also have discounts while using this app. It has many hotlines that might be helpful in using within the US.

For more information check out the video above.

In my opinion one way to develop this app is to link similar apps in every country to make it one app that can be used around the world, or at least in every continent as a start. Now this would really be a Health APP REVOLUTION !!

 

Health Care Communication App

 

Now, this app is really interesting. This was developed from a wonderful woman that actually been in a situation that required an app like this but unfortunately didn’t find one. It simply replicates what ever the patient needs to say which makes it easier for the recipient to know and fix the problem. In my opinion, this app is required and essential in all hospitals and for all places that have health care especially where the disabled are been treated.

First Aid by Australian Red Cross APP

This app is sold by SIDED CUBE DESIGN LTD and is available for free on both iOS and Android.

The app provides interactive videos and simple step-by-step advice regarding the most common first aid emergencies including: chocking, burns, asthma, allergies, broken bones and bleeding. The app would predominately be used as a tool for learning prior to an emergency situation, and this learning can be tested through the multiple choice tests provided.

The app has a huge potential to improve patient care as if emergencies are attended to correctly and immediately, the severity of the health impairment and the extensiveness of treatment are both likely to decrease. This attention is only able to be provided by trained personal and this app provides easy and extensive access to unregistered but valuable training. If the extensiveness of treatment is decreased, patients are more likely to adhere to the treatment and more likely to lead a better quality of life, which are both critically important aspects of patient care.

For more information and screenshots visit:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cube.gdpc.aus