Physicians who need to quickly communicate time-sensitive information about their patients should no longer use text messages, according to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The group issued a “ban” on physicians communicating patient information via SMS, saying that because SMS can never become secure, it can never be a HIPAA-compliant form of commuication.
JCAHO noted that mobile apps can become HIPAA-compliant and can offer many other features that texting cannot, including video. An estimated 72% of American doctors currently have smartphones and therefore have access to smartphone apps. Not surprisingly, younger physicians are more likely to use medical apps. A study of smartphone utilization among residents in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education found that 70% of residents were using their smartphones clinically, while just 40% of attending physicians who had been practicing for 15 years or longer were doing so.
Medical information apps such as Epocrates, Medscape and Skyscape are among the most popular downloads. Others are those related to diet and fitness, which doctors often share with patients, as well apps that offer data about drug interactions.
