iPhone health applicaions have just about everything but the cold stethoscope

Cell phones can't actually get hot enough to pop popcorn, regardless of what you may have seen on YouTube. But some do have other unexpected abilities that just might help improve your quality of life. Dozens of new health and fitness Web applications are now available for use with the Apple iPhone, which combines a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod and an Internet browser into one gadget. The apps, which likely will eventually be available on other phones that will run on a Google-based operating system, enable third-party software developers to create a new breed of health services. These programs can literally put all your health records—including digital images such as ultrasounds and echocardiograms—into the palm of your hand. Or they can administer eye exams or keep track of your calories and exercise. One application, My Life Record, lets consumers access and share their own medical imaging, charts, medications and even lab results via the iPhone. That would be handy if, for example, you hurt your ankle and had it X-rayed at the University of Chicago, said Dr. Russ Horowitz, an emergency room physician at Children's Memorial Hospital. f your ankle was throbbing two days later and you went to see Horowitz, he'd have to call the University of Chicago for the report—someone else's interpretation of the image—or take another X-ray. "It would save the system a lot of money because I wouldn't have to redo things," said Horowitz. If the phone is lost, privacy could be an issue. But if you immediately contact the My Life Record support staff, they'll disable the device so your health information is inaccessible. If your iPhone turns up, they can re-enable it.

From: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-0727-health-cell-phone-sidejul27,0,3379444.column