In Doximity, physicians use their real names, with dual passwords that app creators say are encrypted on both ends. They describe the app as a “HIPAA-secure” way to communicate. The app can also be used to send text messages and faxes—also described as HIPAA secure—to physicians and pharmacies.
With Sermo, doctors can post anonymously. They can easily take photos related to cases and post them for review and input from other doctors. They can also mark discussion threads and go back to read them later.
Dr. Kim says such sites are catching on and leading to real improvements to patient care.
“We are at the tipping point where we are seeing some meaningful adoption,” he says. “These platforms provide an effective way for clinicians to share information and collaborate.”
ACR Wiley app (iPhone, iPad, Android; free)
Not to self-promote (Wiley is the publisher of The Rheumatologist), but Dr. Kazi says this is a good app to have to keep up with the latest rheumatology information.
The app includes study abstracts, news articles, and more from the journals Arthritis & Rheumatism and Arthritis Care & Research, as well as The Rheumatologist.
It also allows users to easily e-mail articles and share them on social media sites.
“It’s a very nice app that allows you to quickly read an article or look up something very quickly on your handheld,” Dr. Kazi says. “If you want to look at guidelines or criteria or anything that’s going on … you have that available.”
Thomas Collins is a freelance medical writer based in Florida.
