Doctors Using Hand-Held Devices

Thousands of physicians are using hand-held computers for reference, writing prescriptions and tracking billing data, and in the future such devices are expected to reduce paperwork and expensive delays in approvals and payments, the New York Times reports. At least 50 companies are attempting to make hand-held devices for doctors; most are small startups, but competitors also include established companies like Palm and Microsoft, along with pharmaceuticals such as Johnson & Johnson and Glaxo Wellcome. The Times reports that 90,000 physicians have already downloaded a free early version of the drug-reference program ePocrates, while other companies are testing software that provides patient charts, incorporates physician notes and keeps track of time with patients for billing. Younger physicians are the most devout enthusiasts of hand-held devices, and some experts predict that the technology will eventually incorporate all of the functions of beepers, cell phones and mini-tape recorders along with computing and communication capabilities. Still, none of the start-ups are profitable yet. One way some companies are trying to make money is by sending advertisements from drug companies directly to physicians' hand-held devices, "blur[ring] ethics and privacy boundaries." Other obstacles in the way of widespread acceptance include streamlining insurance information to incorporate the majority of patients' data, integrating the systems with older existing office computer systems, and complying with HIPAA regulations (Freudenheim, New York Times, 1/8).