Richard Kube, MD, Spine Surgeon, CEO and founder of Prairie Spine & Pain Institute, Peoria, Ill. is one of six spine surgeons around the country featured in Becker’s Spine Review for the weekly column Ask Spine Surgeons. This week the surgeons are discussing how mobile technology can enhance patient care.
Dr. Kube’s response: We currently use the Microsoft Lync phone system. It allows us to use computers as phones. We implemented Bluetooth headsets so that once logged into their workstations, staff can be up and about — i.e. more productive while still having the ability to answer calls. We are also implementing usage of Android and iPad platforms with a patient portal within a model merging Microsoft SharePoint and GE Centricity. The patients can fill out the paperwork at home or on a tablet. The information is captured and auto-populates the EMR.
Another tool is the 3D4Medical app for iPad. Their SpinePro III is a 3-D animation program demonstrating anatomy and typical pathologic conditions of the spine. You have the ability to freeze the animation at any point, draw on it with your finger, and then send that image to the patient via email right in front of them. It helps with education and also gives the patient a descriptive picture of their condition to review at home.
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