The Skype Consultation: a Technological Step Too Far?

This guest post is authored by Niqui Stubbs, a 4th year medical student.

In the UK, around 835,000 people make appointments to see their GP every day, and 1 in 10 of these appointments are missed, wasting the doctor’s time as they could have used that appointment to see a patient who actually needed it. Some people may miss their appointment because they forget about it, but some may not be able to attend their GP due to a physical ailment or possibly because they are frail and live in a very rural area. It is because of these reasons that health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is supporting a new type of GP consultation: the Skype appointment.

This call for video consultations opens up a lot of possibilities for people who were previously unable to see their GP, but also for people who may only have a minor ailment such as a sore throat or runny nose, as these people are unlikely to need a physical examination. The worries though, are centred on this: the fact that a physical examination is not possible.

80% of a diagnosis comes from a well told patient history, but the physical examination still makes up a very important 20%. Without a proper examination by a health professional a rash could be diagnosed as dermatitis when it is in fact meningitis, a headache could be diagnosed as a migraine, when it is really the first sign of dangerously high blood pressure; the video consultation could well be a fast track to a medical malpractice claim. The physical examination is an important part of the consultation as it allows the doctor to confirm his theories of a diagnosis, but also find other signs that the patient may not have been aware of.

2010 mHealth Summit Attracts Leaders in Wireless Health Research and Technology

Press Release:

2010 mHealth Summit Attracts Leaders in Wireless Health Research and Technology As Event Sponsors

Washington, D.C. (July 06, 2010) – Industry leaders Abbott, Microsoft Research, Pfizer, Qualcomm, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Skype and Verizon Wireless have joined the 2010 mHealth Summit as sponsors, the conference organizers announced today.

The 2010 mHealth Summit, a partnership of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, the National Institutes of Health and the mHealth Alliance, will connect leaders in health, government, the private sector, academia and not-for-profit organizations to advance discussion and decision-making related to the intersection of mobile technology, health practice and research, and policy in the United States and abroad. The conference will be held November 8-10 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

As the Summit date nears a diverse group of sponsors is offering their support, from leading charitable organizations, to pharmaceutical and technology companies, wireless carriers and media groups.

Unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls on Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is advertising "Unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls." Smartphones that are capable of Skype Mobile include a long list of smartphones running Google Android and BlackBerry. Sorry Windows Mobile and webOS users. Your devices aren't on the list right now. Let's hope that changes soon.

In the past, people relied on Wi-Fi connections to use Skype. Now, you can use your 3G connection (without doing any hacking or modifications to your phone). This is a great feature for medical students, international medical graduates who still have family members overseas, and for cost-conscious physicians who want to save on phone bills and international calls. 

To learn more, visit  http://phones.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile/

5 ways medical students can save money on smartphones

If you're a medical student or a resident, you probably don't have the luxury of a really expensive smartphone plan. I remember those days when we were trying to save every penny because our finances were so tight. Of course, many people also have the luxury of student loans, so they may not be so budget-focused. For those looking for a few tips on ways to save money on smartphone plans, here are a few suggestions:

1. Eliminate the data plan (if you have the option) and choose a very simple cell phone plan. Do you really need a data plan on your smartphone? Or, can you get by with Wi-Fi only? If you can avoid the $30-45/month that you're paying for a data plan, then consider buying an older used smartphone so that you don't need to pay for a data plan. Check with your wireless provider first to see if you'll still be required to pay for a data plan for specific smartphone models. On Verizon Wireless, there are several older smartphones that do not require data plans. You won't find them on the Verizon website, but you'll see them on eBay.
2. Leverage coupons and resellers. Buy a smartphone through a reseller that offers discounts and coupons.  Do some searching online and look for savings like Best Buy coupons.
3. Share minutes on a family plan. We all have family. Are they willing to put you on their family plan? Several wireless providers have recently expanded their family plans and now offer many options for families that even wish to have unlimited calling. Look for the cheapest cell phone plan that fits your needs and try to reduce your minutes each month.
4. Get rid of your landline and use your smartphone as your primary phone. Do you really need a landline phone? If you don't, then you can save $20-30/month by getting rid of that landline phone.
5. Use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)or Google Voice instead of your smartphone minutes. I'm paying $2.95 per month to have unlimited domestic calling through Skype. I'll get into Google Voice on a different blog post.

So, are these tips practical? Well, it really depends on how much flexibility you have. If you're frequently in front of a computer and you constantly have Wi-Fi access, then you might be able to get by without signing up for a data plan.

Using Skype on a smartphone

Have you tried using Skype on a smartphone? Using Skype, you can make free calls through the Internet. You can also pay $3/month to make unlimited calls to anyone in the U.S. or Canada (including mobile phone numbers). Although Skype software for mobile devices such as smartphones has been in beta mode for a while, they now have Skype for the following mobile devices:

• Windows Mobile
• Nokia N800/N810
• Skype Lite
• iPhone
• Skype on PSP®

By using Wi-Fi, you can use the Internet to make free calls. This way, you don't use up your airtime and you can use your Wi-Fi enabled smartphone for Skype. There's also something called Skype Lite, but that's mainly for other types of phones (including the G1 which is in beta).

To learn more about Skype for your mobile phone, visit: http://www.skype.com/mobile/

Thoughts on the BlackBerry Storm 2

I love the Apple iPhone. Unfortunately, I'm on Verizon Wireless and I don't plan to switch to AT&T. I have an iPod Touch and I can get access to many of the novel applications that run on the iPhone.

I admit that I've been intrigued and captivated by the BlackBerry Storm. However, I'm not a huge fan of the SurePress screen. Now, the new BlackBerry Storm 2 won't have the SurePress screen. It will have a traditional capacitive touch screen similar to the iPhone. Plus, I belive it will have Wi-Fi and I think that Skype may be releasing software for the BlackBerry (who knows what types of limitations Verizon Wireless will impose if Skype does become available).

I currently use a Windows Mobile phone made by HTC and it works fine. Most of the mobile web browsers are slow and none are nearly as powerful as the ones found on the Apple iPhone or BlackBerry Storm. I plan to wait and pass on the BlackBerry Storm 2. What am I waiting for? A version of the Verizon Wireless iPhone (I'm hoping the rumors are true).

The BlackBerry Storm 2 will have Wi-Fi

Yes, the rumors seem to be true. There will be a newer version of the BlackBerry Storm that will have Wi-Fi. Why the big deal? Because most hospitals have Wi-Fi and you won't be relying on a slow data plan to access the Internet. Also, what if you could use Skype or some other Voice Over IP (VoIP) solution to make free calls? Do you think Verizon will allow that? If so, sounds like some great perks for medical students and residents. So what other cool new features will the updated Storm include?