Smartphone cameras in the hospital

Some of the strangest medical photos have been captured using smartphones in the hospital. If you're a U.S. physician, you've probably joined Sermo and you know what I'm talking about. Now that so many health care professionals and students carry smartphones, we have cameras everywhere! So, if you're in the ICU and you see a very strange phenomenon, then you can capture that image immediately. Or, if you're in the ER (this is where some of the strangest photos come from), then you can quickly capture something using your smartphone.

Now, we can't ignore the issues surrounding patient confidentiality. Does your hospital have a policy about taking photos of patients? There are many reasons why you may want to photograph a rash or lesion. However, it's critical to ensure that you're respecting patient privacy and confidentiality at all times.