5 Apps And Technology Solutions For Better Health

Whether it's due to one's geographical location or financial situation, some people have restricted access to much-needed healthcare services. As technology advances, companies are able to develop solutions that will let people access these services from the comfort of their own homes. Here, in no particular order, are some apps and platforms that allow patients and even other healthcare workers to connect with doctors regardless of where they are.

First up, at #1, we have Health at Hand, an app that aims to provide access to affordable quality healthcare whenever and wherever it is needed. Through their mobile phones or tablets, users can conduct video consultations with qualified doctors who can treat any urgent but non-emergency conditions. If necessary, doctors can also refer the user to a specialist for further treatment or tests.

Doctors on Health at Hand can provide immediate advice on a wide range of issues, including colds, flu-like symptoms, sore throats, and allergies. The app is fully HIPAA compliant, meaning that calls are always confidential and patients' private health data will never be shared.

Coming in at #2, the Butterfly iQ is a portable whole-body ultrasound system that attaches to a smartphone. Its single probe delivers a 2D array of micro-machined sensors and is capable of performing all indicated clinical applications. Only physicians and other practitioners licensed to use or order the use of diagnostic ultrasound are eligible to purchase the Butterfly iQ.

Its TeleGuidance platform allows a trained scanner to remotely guide a novice colleague at bedside or to collaborate with a qualified peer. Butterfly Network also developed the iQ Vet, providing veterinarians greater access to a high-resolution device that will lead to earlier diagnosis.

Next, at #3, we have Evergreen Life, an app that aims to help users get personalized insights on how to take care of their well-being at home. It allows users to store and track their own personal health information, including body measurements, medication reminders, and important documents, such as GP referral letters or health insurance.

The app lets users connect to their Electronic Health Record, which is an online version of one's GP record. This allows instant access to one's current and past medical information, as well as providing the ability to safely book or cancel doctors' appointments online and order repeat prescriptions.

Next up, at #4, we have MD LIVE, a low-cost alternative to urgent care clinic visits that provides access to board-certified doctors through secure online video or phone consultations. Its doctors are trained to treat a wide range of non-emergency medical conditions, such as allergies, sore throats, and nausea.

Among the platform's other services are online therapy and psychiatry, with licensed experts who can help those struggling with conditions such as anxiety and depression. MD LIVE also offers teledermatology, which provides patients with a full consultation, complete with a diagnosis, personalized treatment plan, and appropriate prescriptions.

Finally, coming in at #5 is N1-Headache, an analytical tool for people with migraines that lets users track their headaches and measure daily factors to scientifically discover and act on the unique pattern of everyday things that are associated with increasing, decreasing, or having no effect on one's risk of attacks.

Its digital platform connects patients to their clinicians through a mobile app and web-based dashboard. Healthcare providers can use it to access a summary of medications taken by each patient, identify their potential risk factors, and monitor individual headache outcomes.