There has been a lot of excitement about Apple’s new iPad Mini due to the more convenient and portable size of this Apple product. The smaller size (7.9 inch screen) and lighter weight (0.68 pounds) make this a more suitable choice for some consumers compared to the older iPad models.
Physicians that use iPads and other tablet devices around hospitals and clinics are particularly excited about the size of this new iPad because it can comfortably fit into the pocket of a physician’s lab coat. This allows physicians to easily carry the iPad Mini on rounds and use it to access electronic medical records (EMR) and other medical information.
iPads have been used around various hospitals since the device was launched in 2010. The Stanford School of Medicine equipped students with iPads to allow them to access more information anywhere, take electronic notes in classes, and go paperless. A California hospital ordered iPads for physicians, allowing them to easily carry around and view lab results and images.
The portability of the iPad Mini allows physicians to conveniently take patient notes, view patient reports, access electronic medical records and even educate their patients. However, the iPad Mini screen may have a downside of being too small and limiting the ability for data input. As mentioned in our previous blog post, there is also the issue of using iPads and other portable devices as a medical tool.
The increasing number of physicians using iPads as a medical tool, however, demonstrates the convenience of these devices in the medical field. The iPad Mini may be even more advantageous for physicians.