Abstract
Smartphone use is extremely common. Applications such as WhatsApp have billions of users and physicians are no exception. Stroke Medicine is a field where instant communication among fairly large groups is essential. In developing countries, economic limitations preclude the possibility of acquiring proper communication platforms. Thus, WhatsApp has been used as an organizational tool, for sharing clinical data, and for real time guidance of clinical care decisions. It has evolved into a cheap, accessible tool for telemedicine. Nevertheless, regulatory and privacy issues must be addressed. Some countries have implemented legislation to address this issue, while others lag behind. In this article, we present an overview on the different roles WhatsApp has acquired as a clinical tool in stroke systems and the potential privacy concerns of its use.
Highlights
Smartphones are a hallmark of twenty-first century lifestyle
The app was intended as a basic messaging app, but its versatility and cost has allowed it to become an important tool for co-worker interactions in health systems
New apps known as smartphone-based paging applications have mostly replaced traditional paging systems when it comes to organization and communication among medical staff
Summary
Smartphones are a hallmark of twenty-first century lifestyle. It is projected that 2.53 billion people will be smartphone users in 2018 (1). It allows for free unlimited text messages, voice notes, voice calls, video conferences, and file exchange between users It only needs an internet connection (WiFi or cellular network) and a smartphone to establish live communication with a person or group of people. A concern regarding its use in medical care is the inadequate protection of private information The purpose of this perspective is to briefly review examples of currently available Instant Messaging (IM) applications, legislation about the use of these apps for clinical purposes in both developed and developing countries, to analyze the difficulties of implementing dedicated Electronic Health Records (EHR) IM applications in low-income settings, and to describe their current (and mostly unregulated) use in stroke systems of care
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
