BlackBerry's App World is now available online -- previously you needed a BlackBerry smartphone to review the applications available through the store -- and the number of health and medical related BlackBerry applications has also more than doubled since the App World launched earlier this year. There are now 85 in the Heath & Wellness category of BlackBerry applications. Within that category is a sub-category called Medical Guides, which, with few exceptions, looks to house those applications intended for use by healthcare workers.
Read on below for The Real Top 7 BlackBerry Medical Guides Apps as they rank today on App World. The store has a seemingly real-time listing of apps based on their popularity, here's the top seven:
Woman Calendar For BlackBerry
Woman Calendar For BlackBerry- developed by BEIKS - $14.99 (but free trial is also available). This app calls itself a "simple and very useful application built around the natural family planning practices (NFP)." The first version of this application was released about 10 years ago in 1999.
Yes, the most popular medical guides app is not for healthcare workers. It's unclear whether the app's free trial figures into its popularity numbers. It is surprising that an app that costs close to $15 is the number one app in this category, though.
Skyscape Medical Resources
Skyscape Medical Resources - developed by Skyscape - Free. This app describes itself as "a highly useful collection of Medical Information and Decision Support resources for Healthcare Professionals, including Physicians, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Medical Students, Nursing Students and more.
Pregnancy Wheel
Pregnancy Wheel - developed by QxMD Software - Free. This app helps users determine pregnancy due date based on LMP (Last Menstrual Period), Pregnancy due date based on ultrasound dating and Gestational age based on due date.
ECG Guide
ECG Guide - developed by QxMD Software - $8.99. This app "offers ECG interpretation from a Cardiology perspective, with over 120 high resolution ECG examples and a quiz feature."
Cardio Calc
Cardio Calc - developed by QxMD Software - Free. This app calls itself a "critical tool for anyone - not just Cardiologists - managing patients with cardiovascular disease or hyperlipidemia." It enables users to determine cardiovascular risk and guide lipid treatment using the Framingham and Reynolds Risk Scores. The app also uses the CHADS2 score to guide treatment in atrial fibrillation. And much more.
GI Calc
GI Calc - developed by QxMD Software - Free. This app is calls itself "a critical tool for anyone - not just Gastroenterologists - managing patients with gastrointestinal and/or liver disease." The app uses the Blatchford score to determine whether a patient requires admission and possible intervention for upper GI bleeding. It helps the user determine the risk of rebleeding and dying from upper GI bleeding using the Rockall score and Forrest Classification. And much more.
ICE
In Case of Emergency (ICE): One Touch Emergency - developed by The Jared Company - $2.99. This app helps the user if they are in an accident, because it provides police or medical emergency personnel contact information and important medical information.
For more on BlackBerry's App World and wireless healthcare strategy in general:
Read this interview with BlackBerry executive Fraser Edward
