- Call 911 immediately
- Call a doctor or go to the ED
- Call a doctor within 24 hours
- Call a doctor during office hours
- Care for the condition at home
For example, Jason is stung by a bee while biking in the woods. Hours later, he develops a pain in his stomach and vomits. Using the MobileNurse application, Jason would search for bee sting and find “abdominal pain or vomiting” in the “When to Call” tab. He would see his symptoms merit a call the his doctor or a visit to the ED. Using the application, Jason can call his doctor with a couple clicks or get turn by turn directions to a nearby ED. Another handy feature within MobileNurse is the First Aid section. Users can view step-by-step first aid instructions for dozens of conditions, including electric shock and frostbite. Users can also view dosage information for common drugs. For symptoms that can be treated at home, the application provides detailed instructions for home care techniques. Physicians Plus makes it clear that the advice presented in the MobileNurse application is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Users are required to agree to a disclaimer that says as much when they first start using the application. “We wanted to be careful not to create an unhealthy dependence upon the app, which diagnoses symptoms, over the services of a medical professional who may take a broader view the symptoms and the entire patient situation,” Sorenson said. “We added the connection to a 24/7 nurse line, in part due to the need to connect the user with a medical professional whenever needed.” In all, it seems like a very handy tool that is a win for patients and providers. Check it out!