Dr. Ethan Goldstein uses
an app on his cellphone
to illustrate his medical
explanation to patient
Amanda Stewart of New
Haven.

Dr. Eric Topol

Dr. Michael Seidman

and data-driven, clinical examina-
tions and patient feedback are equally
important. Utilizing technology, I
will continually encourage patients to
take ownership of their own health-
care, while educating and guiding
them to make the best choices?'
Liz Suminski of Waterford, who is
seven months pregnant, uses a DMC
pregnancy app on a regular bases.
"It tells me how big my baby is, what
I should be doing that particular
week and sends me short articles on
nutrition and how to stay active?' she
says. "Although Dr. Goldstein uses his
cellphone to give me my tests results,
it's more comforting to know that I
can be in constant contact with him
whether he's in the office or not?'

SMARTPHONES AND DIABETES

Smartphones now serve as glu-
cometers for diabetic patients and
can serve as cardiograms for heart
patients. Patients don't have to use
finger sticks and intermittent glucose
readings when they buy the app in
the Apple Store to get continuous
checks on their diabetes and wear
sensors that track their activity.
"Diabetic patients routinely use
technological devices, including insu-
lin pumps and devices that continu-
ously monitor blood sugar levels,"
says Dr. Lowell Schmeltz, M.D., chief
of endocrinology at DMC Huron
Valley-Sinai Hospital.
"For example, many patients use
the Web-based system called Care-
Link to help them take in informa-
tion from their diabetes management
tools, including insulin pumps,
continuous glucose monitors and
blood glucose meters. The software
organizes their logbooks into easy-
to-read charts, graphs and tables.

www.redth read magazi ne.com

These reports help patients and their 2011. A handheld ultrasonic probe
healthcare provider discover any
plugs into a smartphone, which gen-
trends and other information from
erates and displays an image.
the data that can lead to improved
"Many doctors build up brick walls
therapy management for greater
preventing direct patient commu-
control of their diabetes.
nication?' Schmeltz says. "I believe
"I can login to their CareLink ac-
technology can break down that bar-
count, analyze their data and make
rier and bring doctors and patients
adjustments to their insulin regimen
together, leading to better health
without the patient coming to the
outcomes. For instance, insurance
office. I don't get compensated at all
usually covers the cost of patients'
for helping patients electronically, but quarterly visits to my office for ana-
it is the right thing for patient care. I
lyzing data and adjusting treatment.
hope one day that insurance compa-
Between visits, when patients use the
nies and Medicare will recognize this various technologies, they can have
as a payable item?'
adjustments made to optimize their
"It's awesome?' says Janet Kelly of
care. Most of my patients love this
Farmington Hills, Schmeltz's patient
approach?'
for five years. "I've been a dia-
A phone can be a use-
betic for 44 years and never
ful medical device even
without any additional
had a doctor use emails like
this. There's no other way to
hardware or software.
do this. I'm on a pump and I
Some medical practices
wear sensors and he receives
already send text messages
the data thru CareLink. I
to patients' mobile phones,
reminding them to take
email him a little note about
how I feel and what's going
their medicine, renew
on in my life. He then emails
their prescriptions or visit
me instructions within a day Dr. Lowe II Schmeltz a doctor. Combined with
— two at most?'
medical downloadable
Another smartphone at-
apps, a built-in camera
tachment is the iBGStar, a glucose
and video recorder, more advanced
monitor for diabetics that plugs into
smartphones can be used as sensors
an iPhone. A test strip is put into the to measure or track heart and respira-
tion rates. Add hardware in the form
device and a drop of blood is applied
from a tiny pinprick. The glucose
of sensors that plug into the phone or
level appears on a small display and
connect to it wirelessly, and a phone
is stored by an app on the iPhone,
can become an even more powerful
allowing for long-term monitoring
tool for monitoring and diagnosis.
with an option to email it to a health-
SMARTPHONES AND WELLNESS
care provider. It was cleared by the
"I use an iPhone and an iPad in my
FDA in December 2011.
practice?" says Dr. Michael Seidman,
MobiSante, based in Redmond,
director of the Division of Otological/
Wash., has devised a smartphone-
Neurotologic
Surgery and medical
based ultrasound system that also
director
of
wellness
at Henry Ford
was granted FDA clearance in early

West Bloomfield. "At the lower end
of the technology, I use email on my
smartphone to receive photos of a
wound for an out-of-state patient or
someone who can't make it to their
post-op visit for one reason or an-
other. Associates may share a picture
of an ear or other head and neck
issue, and then I can see the issue in
real time?'
"I'm helping to establish an ears,
nose and throat surgical (ENT)
hospital in Bangladesh, India, with
other physicians throughout the
world?' Seidman says. "We need to
use telemedicine to take pictures to
see the problems in a remote village.
There are scopes that can go into the
ear and hook up to the smartphone
and then, provided there is wireless
or broadband, the image and info can
be sent across the planet for review. I
use the iPhone to take video clips of
a patient and send them to a hospital
or physician for consultation.
"I may take my phone or iPad in
the room when I'm with patients so
that I can quickly reference a medica-
tion or health concern?' Seidman says.
"Patients are familiar about adding
health apps to their smartphones,
especially when the topic concerns
weight loss or tracking their daily
exercise. Insurance companies may
accept the data from smartphones
when the focus is on weight loss.
"I'm a firm believer that patients
need to be engaged in their health-
care and be the CEO of their bodies?'
he says. "God gave us one body and
it's our responsibility to take care of it.
If smartphone apps can help patients
change their behavior and improve
their lifestyle by monitoring their
heart or tracking their weight loss, it's

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