Empower Your Practice: 7 Essential Apps For NPs
In the breakneck pace that is the reality of today’s healthcare environment, Nurse Practitioners have numerous apps available that leverage technology to help streamline tasks, stay updated on the latest practice guidelines and medical information, and enhance patient care. As we continue forth into the digital age, these tools have become indispensable. With the numerous apps available we can’t cover them all, but here are seven that are continually named as the most essential for an NP’s resource toolkit:
VisualDX
One standout app that has become a game-changer for Nurse Practitioners is VisualDx. This decision support and clinical reference tool empowers NPs to make fast and accurate diagnoses by visually comparing and identifying conditions from a vast database of images and information on an extensive range of diseases. This innovative diagnostic tool uses AI technology to analyze photos uploaded by the NP and then classifies them instantly, offering an array of likely conditions and providing diagnostic and treatment options. A much-loved feature of this app is the patient engagement and communication factor, in that it allows NPs to easily share disease information and images with their patients from their phone or tablet.
VisualDX
Up-To-Date
Featuring over 10,000 topics that include graphics, illustrations, tables and figures, a drug interaction checker, plus medical calculators, it’s easy to see why nurses and doctors alike swear by this app. NPs will also value the research articles available, best-practice recommendations, and the patient education tool that includes 1500 printable handouts. This well-loved tool is used by more than 1.3 million users, has the versatility of being able to search medical information in many languages, and offers alerts on the latest medical news.
Up-To-Date
MediBabble
Interacting with non-English speaking patients is made easier with the use of this free app that was designed to improve safety and efficiency of care. Using a database of thousands of translated questions and instructions, NPs can communicate diagnostic questioning, information, instructions, and treatment and follow-up plans. Culturally sensitive explanations and the ability to communicate with deaf and hearing-impaired patients are also made possible through this award-winning app.
MediBabble
Medscape Mobile
This mainstay resource is an all-inclusive tool that offers a plethora of features, including a drug interaction checker, a multitude of medical calculators, a disease and condition reference library of more than 4000 diseases, formulary information, procedural articles, and the latest medical news. It also includes a few standout features that make it a must for many nurse practitioners: a visual database of drugs to identify by color, shape, and imprint, and the ability to earn CE credits/units by utilizing the activity tracker.
Medscape Mobile
CDC Mobile
The latest health information available in the US is at your fingertips in readily visible figures and charts with this app from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NPs can keep track of present issues in healthcare, disease trends, vaccine information, and emerging and infectious disease patterns. It also offers podcasts, review journal articles, a weekly morbidity and mortality report, and the ability for NPs to expand their knowledge through the “Disease of the Week” feature, which profiles obscure and lesser-seen conditions and their treatment methods.
CDC Mobile
Monthly Prescribing Reference
This app is an all-in-one multispecialty drug reference with detailed prescriber information on over 43,000 prescription and OTC medications. NPs can use the algorithms and guidelines to aid in care decisions, along with 100+ medical calculators, over 150 clinical treatment charts, and a generic-brand guide. The app also provides daily news on current topics in drug therapy and medicine.
MPR
Figure 1
Touted as the Instagram for medical professionals, Figure 1 is a medical collaboration, social networking, knowledge- and photo-sharing app that allows users to post and comment on medical images, discuss medical cases, and give and receive feedback on them from other verified users. The app also offers a broad database of confirmed diagnoses for reference and diagnostic assistance. They’ve made it easy to use with built-in features such as identity blocking and facial blurring to preserve patient privacy, consent forms for patients to sign using a finger, and a paging feature to page experts to confer quickly on patient cases.
Figure 1
In our current world defined by technological developments and the advancing landscape of healthcare, these apps are an example of how NPs can transform the way they provide patient care. From improving patient management to homing in on diagnostic accuracy, these tools have become a standard for increasing overall efficiency in patient healthcare. A savvy NP can stay ahead of the curve by embracing the power of technology that’s available in the palm of their hands.
