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The technology of today's world continues to bring about amazing and innovative changes in a variety of areas. One of the more interesting and fastest-growing areas of change has been the medical field. Not only has technology allowed for the development of advanced medical equipment to help save lives, but it also has started to find its way into letting patients have better access to their doctors and medical records. As more people have come to rely on smart phones for communicating with family and friends, the number of applications, better known as apps, has also continued to expand. One of the biggest areas of expansion involves the development of mobile apps to allow patients to have access to doctors, medical records and get answers to personal health issues. Routine Screenings Among the many developments in Pennsylvania business news is the development of mobile medical apps to help remind patients of routine screenings that could potentially save their lives. Medical professionals in Pittsburgh are very excited at the idea of apps being used to remind patients of screenings for such types of cancer as breast, colorectal and cervical. With medical errors accounting for more than $17 billion, the failure of patients to get these routine screenings is considered an error of epic proportions. The use of electronic health records will remind patients when screenings are due, and mobile medical apps will be the preferred method of delivery. Medical Records Another exciting development in Pennsylvania business news is the rapid use of medical apps to give patients more complete access to their medical records. In the Pittsburgh area, a clinical trial was held in 2010 among over 100 doctors from three hospitals. The doctors shared their notes with their patients, wanting to see what difference if any it would make. What they found impressed them, with patients responding favorably to the idea. The results were improved compliance with prescriptions, more accurate records and numerous marketing opportunities for the medical facilities themselves. Giving patients greater control over their medical records is also being tied into requirements that a certain percentage of a doctor's patients are using electronic medical records. The current requirement is 5% of patients, with the eventual goal being 10% over the next several years. Types of Medical Apps With the rapid development of medical apps, many are concerned about what if any rules and regulations will be placed on them. The Food and Drug Administration recently gave a presentation outlining the different types of mobile medical apps and the regulations that would govern them. While mobile apps dealing with helping patients lose weight will not require government review, those measuring a patient's vital signs or doing diagnostic checks of implanted pacemakers or defibrillators will require government scrutiny before being allowed on the open market. Mobile apps are the wave of the future, with new ones being developed almost every day. As medical care and preventive measures become more important in the health care plans of more people, the use of these apps is poised to play a vital role in helping people stay healthier well into their later years. The author has an immense knowledge on Pennsylvania business news. Know more about Pennsylvania business news related info in his website.
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