Citrix Virtualization for the iPad

In my past few blog posts, I’ve discussed the rapid penetration of iPad’s by health care providers. Virtualization is another reason why iPad’s are being readily adopted in the clinical setting.

Citrix’s Receiver application is a free app available for the iPad which allows users to access their virtualized Windows applications. In addition, it let users access and view both Adobe Flash-and Microsoft Silverlight-based Web sites, which isn’t allowed through Apple’s Safari. With Citrix Receiver, the iPad can provide most of the functionality of a desktop, including an on screen keyboard.

Nick Volosin, ISS director of technical Kaweah Delta Health District in Visalia, CA stated “It [iPad] gets the physicians in the patient rooms more, if the physician is in the room charting-versus at the document desk—the patient feels that they’re present. The patient can ask questions. They don’t have to push the nurse call button as much.”

If your organization has Citrix servers already install, it would be prudent to do due diligence on allowing connectivity via their Receiver app for the iPad. If your organization doesn’t have Citrix but considering it, enumerate this feature as a pro for installing Citrix.

iPad, Embraced By Health Care Providers

In one of my previous blog posts, Rapid Integration, I discussed the rapid adoption rate of tablet computers, iPads in particular, by physicians. One of my blog readers asked what were my thoughts on why the iPad was readily embraced by physicians?

Actually, healthcare providers have been using the iPhone for several years now for everything from voice recording to clinical data entry via the mass selection of apps that are available for this platform. So the rapid adoption rate of iPad by physicians really came as no surprise. However, I think there are a couple of characteristics that made the iPad even more attractive to health care providers.

First the price, for a few hundred bucks you can have the processing power of a desktop computer in your hands and/or lab jacket at a fraction of the weight and size. Secondly the apps, basically the iPad can run all of the apps available on the iPhone, and it can be used to enter data directly into EHR and CPOE systems. Thirdly the size, the iPad is about the same size as patient charts so carrying around an iPad is not awkward. Also the larger screen on the iPad makes it easier to obtain and enter information, and share this info with the patient.

Now if Jobs (Apple’s CEO) and Narayen (Adobe’s CEO) could settle their differences so the iPad can run Adobe’s Flash, this would open the iPad to many more applications.

EMR App for the iPhone

In a previous blog entry, “A Gadget Kind of Day” I blogged about Sling Box finally releasing the Sling Player Mobile app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Because of my excitement to finally get a chance to watch TV on my iPod Touch, I proudly stated the blog entry had nothing do with HIT, other than possibly up selling a techno-geek physician that had to have the latest gadget. Thanks to blogger Fred Pennic of Healthcare IT Consultant Blog for his blog post on an EHR app for the iPhone.



A company in California, Caretools, have developed an award winning app, iChart, specifically designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. In addition to the charting, iChart also includes prescription, billing and lab report modules. Basically, all patient data is entered on the iPhone app, or from a web based desktop computer. Once new information is added to a patient’s record via the iPhone, the data is first stored on the iPhone and then synchronized to an iChart Web based account.

So in a nutshell, iChart is a SaaS EMR with an iPhone front-end. Therefore, the same risks identified when evaluating a SaaS EMR must be taken into consideration when evaluating this app. Also, because patient data is stored on the iPhone, in order for this app to be HIPAA compliant the dreaded iPhone password must be enabled. Honestly, do you know anyone with an iPhone that has their password enabled? However from a price standpoint, Cartetools have competitively priced the iChart app. The basic product is priced at $139.00 for the first year with an annual renewal subscription fee of $99.

Here again, for the techno-geek type provider, this app can’t miss, its way cool!! For the bread and butter type provider, a desktop anchored down in the examination room or a nice size handheld tablet is more in line.

Click here to visit Caretools' website.

Read Fred Pennic’s complete blog article here.

A Gadget Kind of Day

In the words of Ice Cube, "today was a good day." One of the most anticipated apps for the iPhone was finally released, SlingPlayer Mobile [read complete story in InfoWorld]. I've had my SlingBox since Decemember 2007, about 10 months later I purchased my iPod Touch for one reason, and one reason only, so I could Sling live TV on-the-go (a Wi-Fi connection is required). I'm giddy because today is the day that my “tech-toys” can finally merged. Prior to today, the only way to get SlingPlayer mobile on my Touch was to jailbreak it. Since I'm not one to "jailbreak" anything, I had to wait it out.

What does this have to do with Healthcare IT? Not a doggone thing! Wait a minute, maybe I spoke too fast. I remember my days as a system integrator when I supported small physician’s practices. There appeared to be a level of envy, or maybe jealousy, that existed among them. Such that if one brought a new BMW, the others would buy a new Mercedes or Lexus. If one hung a $5,000 piece of fine art in their office, the others would put pieces of fine art into their office. When we installed a wired network with Internet access in one doctor’s office, the others followed suit soon thereafter. You see where I going with this, right? If you're a system integrator, show off this "way cool" app to the doctor that must have all the latest gadgets, trust me, he will want this. Of course, you offer to set this all up for him. Then once he shows it off to his physician pals, the others will follow….cha-ching!!

If you have no idea what a SlingBox and/or SlingPlayer is check out the YouTube video posted by PhoneDog.com.