Not too long ago, traveling physicians faced limited options when it came to carrying complex medical equipment. While scalpels, needles, gauze, and pills could fit into a bag, larger devices like ultrasound and EKG machines posed challenges for medical mobility.
Fortunately, times have changed.
Today, performing an ultrasound at a patient’s bedside in their home or conducting EKG tests on a bus is entirely possible. Advances in portable technology have empowered physicians with a range of convenient devices for use during off-site visits.
At MrLitterBox, we strongly advocate for mobile medicine as part of our commitment to improving healthcare accessibility for Filipinos. One essential portable device we recommend for every mobile doctor is the iPad or tablet computer. With an iPad, utilizing an Electronic Health Record (EHR) like SeriousMD allows physicians to access and create patient files beyond their office. This eliminates the need to carry physical copies of files and even permits digital note-taking, mimicking the traditional scribbling on paper.
Portable tech brings new convenience to an out-of-office doctor’s task. So we encourage doctors to give a try to devices like the 10 we’ve listed below. You just might find something that makes your job as a mobile physician even easier.
A Portable Ultrasound Imaging Device
Gone are the days when ultrasound devices occupied as much space as a hotel cart. Now, you can have one that easily fits in your pocket.
Take, for instance, the Tri-Scan Max of devices from Drsono. Each tri-scan device is approximately the size of an average smartphone, making portable echoscopy a feasible option for traveling physicians. The series even includes a two-transducer (dual probe) model.
The Tri-Scan Max devices are not the only ones available. MobiSante offers the SP1 System, which is comparable in size and capabilities. Regardless of the distinctions between the SP1 System and Tri-Scan Max devices, the essential point is that doctors now have a broader range of choices for such portable ultrasound devices than ever before.
A Compact EKG Device
Arguably the best example is the AliveCor Kardia. Although, to engineers it was a gadget that enabled them to monitor their cardiovascular lesions, the doctors would procure this regalia for their advisory services of their patients.
Unfortunately, the Kardia Mobile, a FDA-approved mobile device that is designed to go into your pocket and to get data from your smart phone, is a device of the future.
All a patient needs to do is place their fingers on the Mobile’s pads. With the Kardia app installed on your smartphone, the data becomes available for readout in as little as 30 seconds.
It’s worth noting that there are also smart bandages available now, such as the Vital Connect patch, enabling patients and their physicians to monitor heart rhythms in real-time. This innovative patch uploads patient data to the cloud, allowing doctors to detect potential issues promptly.
A Portable Infrared Thermometer
Why opt for infrared thermometers over traditional mercury or digital ones?” you might ask. The answer lies in their practicality, especially when dealing with patients who are restless or uncooperative.
Infrared thermometers prove particularly valuable for doctors in pediatric specialties, providing a convenient solution when patients are less than cooperative. This is especially relevant in out-of-clinic settings where environmental factors may contribute to patient agitation.
With numerous brands offering infrared thermometer models today, finding one that suits your needs is not a challenge. However, a useful tip to keep in mind is that the laser in these thermometers serves as a marker for the general measurement area, not the specific point being measured.
In other words, the actual area of temperature measurement usually lies somewhere around the laser—either above, beside, or below it, depending on the specific device. To ensure accuracy, it’s advisable to consult the manufacturer for precise information. Alternatively, consider opting for a two-laser thermometer, as it provides a clearer indication of the measurement area by positioning the space between the two laser points.
A Convenient Glucose Monitoring Solution
This becomes especially useful when you need to quickly ascertain a patient’s blood sugar levels. While traditional hospital glucose meters have become more compact, there are now options that allow you to transform your smartphone into a glucose meter. Typically, this involves installing a corresponding app and connecting a small device to your smartphone, resulting in a more portable system compared to the standard hospital equipment.
Numerous smart glucose meters are available today, ranging from iHealth’s Wireless Gluco-Monitoring System to Dario. However, when making a selection, it’s advisable to consider factors such as the cost of strips and the logistics of having them delivered to your location.
A Portable Speech-to-Text Transcriber
Ideal for doctors who find themselves fatigued from extensive typing or note-taking after patient examinations, speech recognition devices offer a practical solution. One of the notable options in this realm is M*Modal’s Fluency Direct solution. Beyond its compatibility with Electronic Health Records (EHRs), it stands out with features such as computer-supplied immediate feedback, assisting physicians in enhancing the quality of their documentation.
A digital Weight Scale
While it’s true that a smart scale may be less portable compared to other devices, if your out-of-clinic appointments involve comprehensive checkups, a scale becomes a necessity. Opting for the latest wireless offerings can be a wise choice. QardioBase, having smart cloud technology pairing with mobile app, makes it possible for you to be monitoring your weight, body fat, and electrocardiograms (ECG) in less than a minute, even when you’re out at home or away. Nowadays, a single study may have hundreds and thousands of data records to process, which is simply mind-blowing. In addition to the weigh-in supports, the mobile professional health-care practitioners can employ finger us for measuring and reporting different ranges of body properties including bone content, muscle mass, fat percentage, BMI, water amount, and much more thus turning the device into the multi-featured tool that is universal.
A Sanitizing Wand
While it may not replace traditional disinfectants such as alcohol, sanitizing wands like Verilux’s serve as handy additions. These wands use UV rays to effectively eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria, making them useful alternatives to liquid disinfectants, especially when working with fabric surfaces and similar materials.
A Digital Auscultation Device
While the traditional stethoscope still functions effectively, for those considering an upgrade, digital alternatives offer additional features. Rechargeable devices like the Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope and the 3M Littmann Electronic Stethoscopes provide capabilities such as recording patient tracks, sending audio data remotely, reducing ambient noise significantly, and incorporating multiple filters for enhanced versatility.
A Compact Blood Testing Device
While not as comprehensive as traditional laboratory tests, there are now portable devices available that allow you to measure various blood parameters on-the-go. An excellent example is the NBM 200 series from OrSense. These systems are not only compact enough to fit into an average bag, but they also utilize non-invasive testing technology to provide data on parameters such as hemoglobin levels, calculated hematocrit, oxygen saturation, low perfusion oximetry, and more.
A Portable Vein Visualization Device
Ever wished for a clearer view of the veins just beneath someone’s skin? The AccuVein AV400 is the solution. This work produces exact the position of the vein within the person through this image was set the centerline coincide with the color of the hair. It is rechargeable. A factor that makes it stand-out among others is that it is permanently aligned compass. Unlike other compasses, it only weighs but more than 10 ounces. The AccuVein technology has presented the team of nurses with a device that not only allows for easier access to the patients’ veins but also has potential to increase the overall efficiency of the healthcare center.
And with that, we conclude the list of portable devices we believe physicians should have this year. If you think we missed anything essential, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below! Otherwise, if you’d like to assist fellow doctors in becoming more mobile in their work, consider sharing this post with them on social media (Twitter/Facebook).
