‘Unbelievable Potential’ Of Health Apps Can Be Undercut By Their Unreliability
Although many physicians are hopeful about the usefulness of new technology, they say that it shouldn't be a replacement for traditional care. "It's like having a really bad doctor," warns Dr. Karandeep Singh, a professor at the University of Michigan.
Los Angeles Times:
Patients Increasingly Rely On Mobile Health Apps, But Their Reliability Is An Issue
For Julie Hadduck, a smartphone app that could diagnose cancer seemed like a miracle. When Hadduck photographed one of her daughter's moles, the app offered a diagnosis within seconds. "It came back red, and I was freaked out," said Hadduck, who lives in Pittsburgh. She took her 9-year-old to a dermatologist, who reassured them the mole was benign. Hadduck, 47, deleted the app. The app that Hadduck tried is one of more than 165,000 involving health and wellness currently available for download — a blending of technology and healthcare that has grown dramatically in the last few years. Experts see almost unlimited promise in the rise of mobile medical apps, but they also point out that regulation is sometimes lagging the pace of innovation, which could harm consumers. (Karlamangla, 4/12)