smartphones are changing the way some physicians practice.

“Times have changed . 

On-the-go internet access via Wi-Fi or 3G networking.

“It definitely has changed the way we do medicine,” .

Using smartphones connected via Bluetooth to a single-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) device, patients who were unable to attend traditional hospital-based rehabilitation were monitored in real time through their smartphones while they exercised in their own neighborhoods .

The smartphone’s accelerometer can be used to interpret gait and balance of patients.

 Another study entailed connecting a single-lead ECG to a smartphone to diagnose and follow treatment with sleep apnea , providing a possible alternative to costly and labor-intensive polysomnography. 

 The phone’s camera along with its light-emitting diode light source has been shown to measure heart rate accurately . Recently, teams have begun working on ECG recording devices that work with smartphones. Moreover, the smartphone is being used for echocardiography . 

MobiSante (MobiSante, Inc, Redmond, WA, USA) became the first company to design and build a US (FDA)-approved cell phone-based medical diagnostic tool with an ultrasound probe in January 2011. A smartphone connected to a Doppler device has been used for blood flow measurement .

Pictures from phone cameras of Gram stains have been sent via text messaged for remote diagnosis . Video clips of  echocardiographic ,  Lung ultrasound studies taken in remote villages can be sent via iPhones to experts for interpretation . 

Engineers have created various microscopes that attach to smartphones, providing a cost-effective and mobile way to bring more technology to poor and rural regions .

Health Apps for all :

1. Epocrates. best  mobile pharmacopeia  and by consensus the most useful app around, Epocrates provides detailed prescribing information at your fingertips. constantly updated drug information right in your pocket.(www.epocrates.com; all platforms; basic version free, expanded version US$159/year)

2. UpToDate. UpToDate provides excellent, peer-reviewed, evidence-based clinical data and recommendations on any computer with internet access.(www.uptodate.com; all platforms via web browser; US$495/year) If your hospital doesn’t have an institutional subscription, consider the cheaper 5 Minute Clinical Consult. (www.5mcc.com; all platforms; US$79.95/year)

3. Voxie Pro Recorder. There are lots of dictation apps out there, but this one gives you the most bang for your buck — well, two bucks. (www.bottlerocketapps.com; iPhone only; US$1.99) BlackBerry users can try AudioWav MobileMic. (www.dataworxs.com; free)

4. MedCalc. A really useful  and surprisingly comprehensive set of medical calculators. Forgetting your Framingham equations? Just ask your smartphone.(www.med-ia.ch/medcalc; iPhone, Palm, Windows Mobile; free) For BlackBerry users, there’s QxMD.(www.qxmd.com; iPhone, BlackBerry; free) Also handy is DoctorCalc’s Normal Lab Values app.(www.doctorcalc.com; iPhone only; US$1.99)

5. Google Calendar. Rounds at 9, clinic at 11:30, CME lunch at 1… Who can keep it all straight? Google can.(www.google.com/mobile/#p=default; all platforms; free)

6. OsiriX. This app lets you bring radiological images with you wherever you go. If you want to. (www.osirix-viewer.com; iPhone only; US$19.99)  .

some more applications especially for medical students,doctors:

Instant heart rate by Azumio :  Monitors the heart rate by the placing of a fingertip on the iPhone’s camera. For a fee, you can store the results as a graph.Availability: iPhone and iPad (azumio.com/apps/heart-rate). Free with option to upgrade.

uHear  :A six-minute test for potential hearing loss, which involves plugging in headphones and listening to a series of sounds at different decibel levels. There is also a one-minute test of ability to hear speech in a noisy environment.Availability: iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad (itunes.com/apps/uhear). Free.

Vision Test     :A series of tests to evaluate sharpness of vision (acuity), astigmatism (poor vision caused by an irregularly shaped cornea), colour vision and duochrome (where red and green is used to spot impaired vision). The acuity test, for example, involves holding the smartphone at arm’s length and identifying letters in decreasing sizes.Availability: iPhone and iPad . Free.

SkinVision  :Tracks daily UV exposure according to location, and analyses moles from pictures sent from a smartphone camera. Developed by a team of dermatologists, mathematicians and computer scientists.Availability: iPhone (skinvision.com). £2.99.

The iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Wrist Monitor, expected on the market in September, measures users' blood pressure directly from their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Its app records systolic/diastolic numbers, heart rate and pulse wave, and can chart blood pressure readings, 

AliveCor Heart Monitor has developed an electrode-studded cellphone case that turns the iPhone 4 into an electrocardiogram device that users hold in their hands or place on their chests to detect irregular heart rhythms. Combined with the app, the monitor can analyze, transmit and store an ECG reading for diagnosis.

A cellphone-based E. coli sensor for water and other fluids,   which uses a lightweight attachment to the phone's camera, 

CellScope's otoscope attaches to the phone's camera lens and will enable parents to photograph their child's eardrum, and e-mail the images to ENT SPECIALIST.

Medscape :One of the most anticipated apps to hit Android, Health care professionals had been waiting eagerly for this comprehensive medical application. Medscape was just recently released on the Android Market and has already become the number one downloaded medical app for the Android platform.The amount of free content provided by Medscape is absolutely mind numbing and seems to continuously grow with each update. 7,000+ drug references, 3,500+ disease clinical references, 2,500+ clinical images and procedure videos, robust drug interaction tool checker, CME activities, and more.

Skyscape:This app makes our top ten list for two major reasons: First, until recently Skyscape has been the only high-quality all-in-one type app for Android. Many of the quality android medical apps we have reviewed, such as the Red Book and Netter’s Anatomy have worked within Skyscape’s universal app. Second, it’s available on all Android operating system versions.

Evernote:Evernote is a great organization tool that can be especially useful for health care professionals and students.  There are not many quality PDF organization apps on the Android Marketplace, and Evernote shines above most of the paid apps.  Evernote allows you to access and read your PDF documents on the go.  Other tools, such as notes and image capture allow you to record atypical disease pathology encountered while practicing for your own reference — possibly even a future presentation.

Calculate by QxMD:Calculate by QxMD scores major points (and lands in our top 10) for its aesthetically appealing design and smooth user interface. The collection of medical calculators contained in this android app is wide enough in scope to satisfy most generalists and students.

MedPage Today:  We find that a well-designed medical news app can be the cure for an email inbox full of unread daily news headlines. MedPage Today is both simple and comprehensive in delivering medical news to your mobile device that is relevant to your particular subspecialty interest.  Much of the content is partnered with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine — giving a reassuring sense of legitimacy to the news articles provided.  Along with reading articles, CME activities are also presented in text, video, and audio form.

Harvard School of Public Health The Harvard School of Public Health News app is surprisingly functional and useful. 

Standard Dictations  :The tedious work of internship is both challenging and overwhelming. For those of us who are soon-to-be interns an app like Standard Dictations is a welcomed anxiolytic.

electronic preventive services selector:  This is a public health tool provided to health care professionals by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) — the nation’s lead federal agency for research on health care quality, costs, outcomes, and patient safety.

PubMed Mobile:This app is a quick and easy access to PubMed on a mobile device. Those who use PubMed regularly can put this app to good use.

Ob (Pregnancy) Wheel:

Eponyms:Eponyms are the bane of many students and providers health care existence. 

Speed Anatomy:  If you are looking for a fun, quick-hitting anatomy quiz – or you are interested in learning anatomy in four different languages – then Speed Anatomy is your best bet among free anatomy apps.

NHS Direct:  Online symptom checkers cover all health concerns, including potential emergencies. Offers instant on-screen, self-care advice or instructions on the most appropriate course of action.Availability: Android and iPhone (nhsdirect.nhs.uk/about/MobileApps). Free.

New dedicated medical smartphone released, incorporating wide range of capabilities.The fully featured healthcare smartphone gives patients and consumers a wide range of embedded medical sensors, wellness-related apps, cloud-based services and 24/7 call center support.It is being launched on the Android operating system, with no word on iOS support.

According to the press release,“The state-of-the-art solution offers multiple sophisticated embedded medical miniature sensors, wellness-related applications, cloud-based services and 24/7 call center support. By using the barely visible sensors on the phone’s frame, patients as well as health- and wellbeing conscious consumers can track, capture, collect and analyze their health and medical measurements anywhere anytime. The features include ECG, body temperature, blood glucose, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, body fat percentage and stress levels (heart rate variability).”