14 DAY TRIAL // During the annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) convention, Stryker Corporation's Orthopaedics division announced the release of its first iPad applications for surgeons. Stryker Orthopaedics has created two apps to help support the evolving needs of health care practitioners and hospitals, as well as to boost its sales and field operations.
Available immediately at Apple's iTunes App Store, the apps reportedly help doctors enhance the patient education process, while also providing easy access to information about surgical techniques and various products used in the field.
One of the apps in question is Stryker Flipchart, a patient education tool designed to help orthopaedic specialists explain a hip, knee or shoulder replacement procedure to patients who are either scheduled for surgery or contemplating total joint replacement
The other, OpTech Live, acts as a guide to Stryker Orthopaedics' surgical protocols with a friendly touch screen interface.
"Transforming our customer interactions with advanced digital technology like the iPad will help us achieve our business objectives and sustainability goals," said Bob Campomenosi, senior director, Healthcare Innovations.
"The iPad is a game changing technology that can improve the way we interact with our customers."
According to Stryker, several of its other business units and divisions are already using iPads to enhance customers' interactions with patients.
The company mentions the likes of Craniomaxillofacial (CMF), Instruments, Endoscopy, Communications and Neurovascular.
Also equipped with iPads is Stryker Orthopaedics’ entire U.S. sales force, following a successful 2010 pilot program.
"Historically, medical device makers' interactions with surgeons and hospitals were paper-based, which consumed a significant amount of time and resources," said Campomenosi.
"With the amount of information at everyone's fingertips today, medical device maker-surgeon interaction can be instantaneous, and medical device makers should be able to provide surgeons with digital access to educational tools that can support their dialogue with self-educated patients."