Can you imagine life without an internet-connected smartphone? With the exception of EHRs, technology has made our lives easier. Doctors included. We set out to assemble a list of the best medical gadgets for physicians. Some of these will bring a little bit of swag to your practice. Others, however, might make your job a bit easier and more pleasant. Here are some must-have medical gadgets for you and your practice. Pulsometer chronographs Ditch that Apple Watch. Forget about all things digital. This device is distinctly old school. Did you know that many of the world’s best watchmakers used to create watches specifically for doctors? These watches, called pulsometer chronographs, enabled doctors to more accurately determine a patient’s pulse rate. Pulsometer chronographs tend to be calibrated for 20 or 30 heartbeats. A doctor would wait until the second hand hits 12, then count off the specified number of beats, noting the figure to which the second hand is pointing after the requisite number of beats have passed. You might not ever need a pulsometer chronograph in today’s wired world, but they sure look cool. Think of it as a conversation starter at your next networking event. Smart notebooks EHRs may have killed paper health records, but they don’t have to destroy your preference for pen and paper. Smart notebooks, such as Rocketbook, save you the step of transferring your notes from paper to pixels. With Rocketbook, write out whatever you want, snap a picture of the page with the Rocketbook smartphone app, then send it to your cloud storage service of choice. The best part about Rocketbook is that you’ll never have to buy another notebook again. Simply wipe the page clean after you’ve stored it and start over. For those who would prefer to have your notes transcribed to digital type — and believe me, everyone’s life will get a little bit easier from not having to decipher your penmanship — there’s the Moleskine Pen+ and Smart Writing Set. This smart pen and notebook work similarly, but also allow you to record voice memos and transcribe what you’ve written. Dictation software Maybe you don’t want to write or type any of your notes. Nuance has you covered with its Dragon software. Solutions exist for practices and medical networks, though you’ll have to work it out with your CMO and IT department for the latter. Nuance says that Dragon is now enhanced by AI, ensuring enhanced accuracy and speed. They also say that it’s 5 times faster than typing and can save you up to an hour daily. Oura ring Since you’ve ditched your Apple Watch, you’re going to need some type of biometric data tracking device. The Oura Ring delivers physician-level data. That’s perhaps because Dr. Peter Attia and Matthew Walker, PhD, are on Oura’s advisory board. Oura has all other fitness trackers beat in two areas: Sleep tracking and heart rate variability. Going beyond spitting out raw data, the Oura ring tracks your biometric data and coaches you on how to take action to improve your performance and sleep. Doctors will appreciate the level of depth in the data that the ring provides. Insights from the Oura ring will help you function at an optimal state in your practice and in your free time. Smart glucose meter Let’s be honest, what patients aren’t diabetic or pre-diabetic these days. Many smart glucose meter devices are intended for patients, but there’s no reason why an endocrinologist or a general practitioner couldn’t keep one of these handy. Dario makes a version that bundles a smartphone app, meter, and lancing device. iHealth also offers a similar sleek product that looks like you might have picked it up at the Apple Store. Bluetooth stethoscopes The beauty of a bluetooth-enabled stethoscope is that many allow you to record and store sounds. If you’re not quite sure what exactly you’re hearing, you can always go back and give the recording a careful listen with a good pair of headphones, or share your recording with other doctors if you want a second opinion. 3M makes a stethoscope that will even print a heartbeat readout or email it to a colleague. Thinklabs makes an even more minimalist model that fits in your palm and allows you to connect your own headphones. Having a hard time hearing? The Thinklabs stethoscope can amplify sound 100x. Wireless blood pressure cuff This elegantly designed blood pressure cuff, made by withings, is bluetooth enabled and will send readings to a smartphone or tablet. Think of this blood pressure cuff as an aesthetic upgrade. Sure, the standard, velcro variety will do the job. But this tech and design upgrade will wow patients. If your patients like the device, they can order their own and send blood pressure readings directly to you. The device also coaches the user based on American Heart Association recommendations for hypertension management. Source
