An Israeli hospital has developed an app for iPads that provides staff, patients, and family members with real-time tracking of progress in catheterization and angioplasty procedures. The Invasive Cardiology Institute at Rabin Medical Center, located in the city Petech Tikvah in central Israel, will use iPads to enable the real-time tracking of the procedures.
The app, which was codeveloped with the McKesson company, is described by Israel National News, like so:
"The iPad app will collate the information collected during the procedure, from the process of monitoring and measuring pressure inside the heart and the insertion of material to gather information from the blood vessels, through the process of coronary artery expansion and implanting the stents. The information itself will also be visible on the iPad to both patients and family members, allowing them to immediately understand explanations or procedure plans suggested by doctors. The software also allows caregivers to present the patient with information about treatment plans and suggestions for how to deal with their condition, while the patient is still resting in bed."
In a press release, the head of the institute and project lead Prof. Ran Kornowski stated that "this is only a small [step] in the age of new medical technologies. Instead of just explaining the catheterization procedure to the patient and his family through words, we can now use the iPad to show them visually, in a very clear and professional manner, the entire medical procedure. It is also a very high level professional way to discuss the catheterization with other cardiologists on line around the world. I believe that this application will pave the road for the initiation of many other [iPad] imaging applications."
While the McKesson Foundation was not involved in this particular app's development, the foundation in February did award $1.3 million in grants to the winners of its Mobilizing for Health initiative contest. The projects that the Foundation awarded make use of a range of mobile technologies and services, from text messaging (SMS) to “comprehensive” software programs.
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Read the press release below and the Israel National News article here.
PRESS RELEASE -- New Worldwide Technology used for the first time at Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson and Hasharon Hospitals) Invasive Cardiology Institute
A new advanced technology has been developed for the first time worldwide, at the Invasive Cardiology Institute, headed by Prof. Ran Kornowski, at Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson and Hasharon Hospitals) where all the pertinent information collected during the catheterization procedure is sent directly to the I PAD. This new application allows for the cardiologist to see the entire catheterization process on the I PAD screen, both for utilization with the patients and the staff. Developed in conjunction with the Mckesson Company this application allows the doctor the opportunity to sit with his patient and their family, and explain the catheterization procedure in a very simple visual matter, with clear cut high resolution imaging.
It is important to note that cardiac catheterization procedure provides pertinent significant on line information about the activities of the patients heart and the condition of the arteries which then allows the cardiologist to accurately assess the situation and carry out to best most accurate catheterization procedure necessary.
Prof. Ran Kornowski who heads the Institute of Invasive Cardiology and initiated this project: "This is only a small stone in the age of new medical technologies where now instead of just explaining the catheterization procedure to the patient and his family through words we can now use the I PAD to show them visually, in a very clear and professional manner the entire medical procedure. It is a completely different and very exciting experience which truly allows for the doctor and patient to meet at eye level, while also completely protecting the privacy of the patients. It is also a very high level professional way to discuss the catheterization with other cardiologists on line around the world. I believe that this application will pave the road for the initiation of many other imaging applications which can be downloaded on to the I PAD, opening up a new wave of useful advantageous medical technologies, beneficial to both the patient and the physician, allowing for much wider worldwide cooperation."
