What Doctors Do With Their Smartphones…
6 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // July 19th, 2010 // 10:44 am
No bad jokes, please. But 59 percent of physicians now own a smartphone and 17 percent say they use their devices to handle e-detailing, regardless of their age. Not surprisingly, more physicians say they also expect to spend less time with sales reps, according to a recent survey of 11,000 doctors and healthcare providers (here is a statement, but not the full survey).
In general, smartphones, such as iPhones and BlackBerries, are now used by 62 percent of specialists and 55 percent of primary care physicians (PCPs). More of these folks are using their devices to particpiate in online surveys, too - 24 percent and 29 percent, respectively. At the same time, 12 percent of specialists and 14 percent of PCPs expect to spend less time with reps this year, compared with 8 percent and 9 percent two years ago, according to Knowledge Networks, which conducted the survey.
More specifically, 92 percent of PCPs expect to see reps this year, down from 95 percent two years ago. A similar trend was discerned among specialists, general practitioners, internists and pediatricians. For instance, 91 percent of pediatrics will give a rep the time of day, down from 95 percent in 2008. However, obstetricians and gynecologists are holding steady at 94 percent.
Meanwhile, more docs are gravitating toward using electronic records - 52 percent of specialists and 50 percent of PCPs already keep patient records in an electronic format – up 10 percent and 12 percent, respectively, since 2008. There was no info, however, about the extent to which, if any, that docs are using their smartphones to access patient records.
pharmavet
Better that the survey was online rather than by phone. The call on my iPhone4 probably would have been dropped.
kerry
This is interesting. Can you provide a pointer to the recent survey?
Ed Silverman
Hi Kerry,
Thanks for the note. I don’t have a copy of the complete survey, but have added a link to the statement issued by the consulting firm.
I had asked for some additional details, which were provided and I then included in this post.
I hope this helps and thanks for stopping by.
Regards
ed
pharmavet
I’m a Microsoft, PC, Bill Gates kind of guy. Listening to Steve Jobs defend his defective iPhone4 reminds me of a whiny kid who didn’t get all of his Christmas presents, then blames Santa Claus for making his life miserable. I’m a proud owner of ZERO shares of Apple stock.
likeitis
No bad jokes….how’s this?
I know at least one physician who doesn’t know the difference between a blackberry and a dangleberry!
Feel free to remove if considered lacking in decorum/tasteless, even if nevertheless true!
John Doe
“I’m a proud owner of ZERO shares of Apple stock.”
That’s sad. You’ve lost the opportunity to make a lot of money in the last 2 years.