The American Medical Association has named the finalists of the 2011 AMA App Challenge. AMA members can vote for their favorite app idea for the month of September.
Earlier this year, physicians, residents and medical students nationwide were invited to submit their app ideas for a chance to have the AMA develop it. Out of the hundreds of submitted ideas, 10 have been selected as finalists.
“Hundreds of physicians, residents and medical students sent us their ideas in the first-ever AMA App Challenge, and now AMA members have the opportunity to decide which ideas the AMA will develop as the next great medical app,” said AMA Chair-Elect Steven J. Stack, MD.
The 2011 AMA App Challenge finalists represent a variety of states and specialties, and their app ideas tackle a broad range of issues that physicians, residents and medical students often face in their daily routines, officials say
AMA members can vote for one idea in the physician category and one idea in the resident/fellow/medical student category.
Two winners will be selected, one from each category, and they will receive $2,500 in cash and prizes, plus a trip for two to New Orleans for the grand unveiling of their winning idea at the AMA’s semi-annual policymaking meeting in November. Winners will be announced in November.
See the next page for a list of the 10 finalists.
The five finalists in each category of the AMA App Challenge.
PHYSICIANS
Rounder
Rounder does away with index cards, allowing users to keep track of hospitalized patients. Users can efficiently round on all patients without forgetting important details before charting. The app also works for easy trade-off on checkout rounds. Rounder provides a data and capture point for information on hospital patients. The app can be customized to suit the user's needs and level of experience.
What's Not Covered
What's Not Covered helps users determine what bacteria/fungus/mold/parasite/virus is not covered by a patient's antimicrobial regimen. This lets physicians broaden coverage in a patient on a multi-drug regimen who continues to deteriorate and to see the difference in coverage between antibiotics. When an antimicrobial regimen fails, this app helps physicians determine next options.
DutyHours
DutyHours tracks and logs residents' time, including categorizing hours, organizing patient lists and issuing auto alerts. The app benefits residents, enabling them to self-track, so they can be more accurate for site visits and achieve greater program compliance. DutyHours automates and streamlines tracking of a resident's time. The interface presents large, simple buttons and smart functions such as GPS tracking.
Mobile Surgery Card
Mobile Surgery Card lets surgeons access and modify templates listing material/device preferences for a particular surgery. The card can be created during the pre-op visit and shared electronically with the OR and with vendors to alert them to needs. This app turns the paper version of a surgical card listing materials/devices needed for a surgery into an easily accessed, transmitted electronic file.
Medical Calculator Series: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is one in a series of AMA apps that gather the most commonly used formulas, guidelines, values and calculations used in a specific area of medicine. All the hard-to-remember but critical calculators and tools are now accessible in seconds. Breast Cancer targets a broad group of caregivers who need to assess breast cancer and treatment risks. The app gathers the major calculators and tools in one easy-to-use program, allowing quick access to information, but preventing interruption of the social interaction with the patient.
RESIDENT/MEDICAL STUDENT
Residency Application Tracker
The Residency Application Tracker helps fourth-year medical students track residency applications, interviews, program notes and communications. It also offers links to useful information on residency programs.
Physician Disaster Preparedness
Physician Disaster Preparedness provides preparedness education and information regarding disasters and disaster assistance opportunities. It helps bridge the communication gap between organizations and medical personnel to enable a more coordinated effort in preparedness, response and recovery.
JAMA Clinical Challenge
JAMA Clinical Challenge presents case studies for users to test and improve diagnostic skills. Given clinical vignettes and images, along with extra case information, users choose a diagnosis. They can then explore a thorough lesson about the diagnosis. JAMA Clinical Challenge puts diagnostic skills to the test with real-world cases. Besides honing diagnostic skills, the app also provides a fun resource for learning.
Smart Flash Cards
Smart Flash Cards lets you easily turn any piece of medical information into your own custom flashcard, with images, text and personal notes. Users can share cards and albums with others to invite communal contributions and edits. There are existing programs that manage a bank of ready-made flashcards for speed and efficacy in aiding memorization. Smart Flash Cards allows users to instantly and easily create their own cards.
AMA Physician Advocacy
AMA Physician Advocacy promotes the betterment of health through healthcare advocacy. The app provides information, calls to action and tools to connect users with other advocates and political representatives. AMA Physician Advocacy offers information and tools to enable rapid communication with others on healthcare policies.
For more information on the 2011 AMA App Challenge or to learn more about the finalists’ 10 ideas, visit the AMA website.
