Village Gamer

The 3^rd annual Essential Physician Study reveals that adoption of smartphones and iPads among physicians is on the rise, signalling a shift towards increased application of clinical information and tools to support Patient Point-of-Care decisions.

“The indication from physicians is that their use of smartphones and iPads is displacing their use of laptops and desktops,” stated researchers at Essential Research.   “The mobile devices give them ultimate flexibility in accessing information and applications they can use at the precise moments they need them in their clinical practice:  at Patient Point-of-Care, both during and between patient visits.”

Ownership of smartphones among Canadian primary care physicians has increased from 55% to 62% in the past 12 months, with 86% of physicians using their smartphones for professional purposes. Moreover, 65% of physicians indicate their year-over-year usage is increasing.

Although physician iPad owners are a relatively small group for now, “we expect that iPad adoption will follow a similar adoption path as smartphones,” said the researchers.  17% of physicians now own an iPad, with the majority (56%) using it for professional purposes.

For Healthcare marketers, this mobile shift has implications for development of communications and programs targeted to physicians.  Essential Research will be closely monitoring professional use of mobile technology among Canadian physicians in order to identify new opportunities for healthcare companies and organizations wishing to more effectively communicate with and engage physicians.