In-flight medical emergencies occur in around 50 flights a day in the USA alone, a statistic that has inspired the development of a new mobile app that helps guide doctors through the process of tending to stricken passengers on aircraft.
Even if the question "Is there a doctor on board??" draws an affirmative response, it doesn't necessarily mean that the individual is completely confident and capable of intervening in a specific emergency situation. After all, your typical urologist or opthalmologist may not have extensive experience responding to a seizure or cardiac arrest.
Enter 'airRx'. This app offers handy guides and checklists covering the 23 most common medical emergencies, as well as lists of medications and equipment commonly available on board most commercial aircraft. Doctors can even consult the app for information on the medico-legal implications of treating passengers, so that their well-intended interventions don't land them in trouble later.
If doctors are to bear an ethical and professional duty to intervene in in-flight medical emergencies that they might not be trained for, they need to be suitably empowered and supported. AirRx makes for a reliable, inexpensive ($4.99) and easy-to-use tool that doctors can turn to for guidance and support in the midst of potential life-and-death emergencies 30,000 feet above sea level.
Aerial Medical Emergency Apps
The airRx App Helps Doctors Respond to In-Flight Medical Emergencies
Trend Themes
1. In-flight Medical Emergency Applications - As the frequency of in-flight medical emergencies increases, mobile applications such as airRx can offer guidance to medical professionals, creating an opportunity for further app development.
2. Telemedicine for Aircraft - Telemedicine has made an impact on the healthcare industry already, and aircraft represent another opportunity to expand the use of telemedicine to support medical emergencies aboard flights.
3. Digital Medical Education - Digital medical education tools, like airRx, that provide on-the-go information about medical emergencies and treatments for physicians could appeal to a broader market of healthcare professionals.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare Industry - AirRx illustrates the opportunities available to the healthcare industry to develop technology and tools that support the critical work of medical professionals in challenging situations.
2. Technology Industry - Mobile apps such as airRx enhance the technology industry's ability to distribute information to medical professionals beyond the hospital walls, creating a new market for these kinds of applications.
3. Air Travel Industry - The air travel industry can benefit from the development of applications like airRx in order to provide more comprehensive and efficient in-flight medical emergency responses.