Keeping up your health can be hard work — America’s rising obesity levels can attest to that. These days, we spend countless hours gawking at our smartphone displays, continually playing borderline-addicting games and watching videos that may actually have adverse affects on our health in the long run. However, your smartphone can also be robust medical accessory with the right intrigue and set of mobile apps.
There’s a variable swath of free and premium medical apps on the market, some of which allow you to better understand pharmaceuticals while others work to diagnose your symptoms and prep you for an unforeseen medical emergency. Below are a few of our current favorites for keeping you in the know. They certainly shouldn’t replace your routine trip to the doctor, but they might just make things a bit easier.
5 helpful medical apps
Micromedex ($3)
Micromedex is a simple pharmaceutical reference app with features such as proper drug dosage and medicine recommendations. You can search the name of a specific drug to find out how it should be taken, as well as any potential side effects. You can also search by ailment for drug recommendations that will combat your medical problem, from the standard fever to lice control. Micromedex is in-depth, yet simplistic, so anyone can quickly find what they’re looking for in a pinch.
UpToDate
For someone studying medicine, working as a medical professional, or just interested in medical news, UpToDate is a great way to keep track of medical advancements and news. You can look at the “What’s New” section to peruse headlines, or you can search for specific topics. Along with articles, UpToDate provides videos on medical procedures and allows you to email or bookmark any page, so you can start a conversation with a colleague or save it for future reference.
Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
A comprehensive reference app, Johns Hopkins ABX Guide allows you to search for information on medications and treatments regarding various illnesses. Plug in a drug and see a list of recommended dosages, side effects, and restrictions on behavior while you’re taking it. The app also offers evidence-based recommendations, giving you a better idea of whether a medication is right for your particular lifestyle. However, the best feature remains the comprehensive table that breaks down drug costs.
Red Cross First Aid
Accidents happen, and honestly, we don’t always know what to do when they occur. That said, the Red Cross’ official First Aid app provides simple step-by-step instructions to guide you through everyday first aid scenarios, whether talking asthma attacks or broken bones. It also supplies you with a host of infromative quizes and safety tips regarding natural disasters such as hurricanes, and given that it preloads all content in advance, you never have to worry about whether you have cellular service.
MyChart
MyChart allow you to access your medical records on your phone at any time. You can quickly see which vaccinations you’ve had and when at a glance, along with the last time you visited the doctor and which prescriptions you’re taking. You can even send a non-urgent message to your clinic and receive a response within a couple days, schedule visits from directly within the app, and request prescription refills. Best of all, you can see all your information online if you can’t access it due to cellular outages.
5 more great medical apps
Epocrates
Epocrates takes reference apps to a whole new level. Not only does the robust offering supply basic information regarding the side effects and dosage amounts of various prescription drugs, but it also allows you to contact their manufacturer directly. If you are having a hard time finding your medication, you can also use the app to find providers and insurance information. Other hallmarks includes its ability to perform dozens of calculations and identify pills using their imprint code or physical characteristics.
Doctor on Demand
If you’ve ever wanted a doctor in your pocket — a physician, pediatrician, or psychologist — Doctor on Demand is for you. The convenient app lets you instantly connect with licensed professionals via video chats and audio calls, thus granting you access to medical advice and prescriptions based on your particular symptoms without you ever having to step out the door. A standard 15-minute all will cost you $40 though, and you aren’t able to choose your doctor.
GlassesOff
Though not necessarily a medical app per se, GlassOff might save you a visit to the optometrist. The app uses various exercises to train your eyes, subsequently working to improve the way your brain processes images by enhancing the image processing function of the brain. After taking a short test designed to assess your vision, the app encourages you to participate in a slew of daily training sessions designed as a basic workout for your eyes.
First Derm
First Derm is, as you may have guessed, a dermatology app that’ll answer any questions you have about your skin; be it a seemingly harmless red bump, a rash, or a bite you don’t remember getting. The app will get your inquiry to a professional dermatologist, who will respond in 8, 24, or 48 hours. First Derm also doesn’t require a login or personal information, but instead chooses to keep everything anonymous. In the event that you’re question skin affliction does need medical attention, the app will also provide directions to the nearest pediatrician, dermatologist, or pharmacy.
ZocDoc
You can’t always get out of a trip to the doctor, but you can make booking one easier with ZocDoc. The simple app allows you to find neighborhood doctors within your insurance network, each with verified reviews from other patients that function much like a Yelp review. You can also view open appointments and instantly book during your preferred time slot, or set checkup reminders and complete all the necessary paperwork for your medical appointment before you head to the office.
5 other useful medical apps
Medscape MedPulse
At its heart, Medscape MedPulse is a news aggregator designed for anything and everything related to the world of medicine. Once you’ve personalized the app with a girth of specialties you deem important, the app provides you with an onslaught of articles written specifically for physicians, students, and healthcare professionals. News topics cover everything from new practice guidelines and the FDA to insights from more than 150 conferences.
CareZone
Managing medication can be a chore (and confusing). Thankfully, CareZone lets you curate a list of medications, dosages, and schedules directly from your photo library. The app also allows you to document and share symptoms with your family or doctor, while giving you the means to store vital insurance information and schedule reminders for upcoming appointments. The personalized health tips and ability to assign to-do lists and store important documents for future reference are only a plus.
WebMD
When people think of WebMD, it’s probably just to make fun of how it’s often the first place people go when they need to figure out what illness or condition they have. The iOS app offers the same thing, but alongside that, it also allows people to set medication schedules, create a process with which they can use to meet a personal health goal, and check for local physicians and pharmacies you may not be aware of. And if you find yourself in need a first aid advice or instructions, the app has that too, and it doesn’t require an internet connection.
GoodRx
Prescription prices will vary depending on what you need and where you go, but GoodRx is here to make sure you know just how much your prescriptions are before you even leave home. Not only can users compare prices between pharmacies, they can also find coupons to save additional money on their purchases, which can be used from within the app itself; no need to print anything out. The app will show current cash and sale prices, as well as manufacturer coupons, and any discounts available at pharmacies nearby.
Round Health
If you often find yourself forgetting to take your medication and vitamins, or simply want something that isn’t just the iPhone’s reminder app, Round Health is something you should check out. The app’s main goal is to make it easier to remember when to take medicine, and make those reminders as effective as possible. It goes beyond the one-time reminder of the aforementioned Apple app, and lets people set “reminder windows” suited to their specific medicine and schedule. Best of all, reminders can be as complex as necessary, and can account for various dozes, show how long you’ve gone without forgetting your medicine, and even let you know when it’s time for a refill.
