Mobile computing for ambulatory health care: points of convergence

The clinical practice of medicine requires highly trained and accountable health professionals who are able to blend science and art at the moment of care. To succeed in this endeavor and make effective care decisions, health professionals needs current information about the conditions and histories of their patients. Mobile computing may offer an effective solution for some of the problems inherent in clinical care, but only if it moves information to the point of care in a way that clearly adds value to the practice of medicine. Further, there are important differences between outpatient and inpatient care, and these differences must be taken into account when assessing a particular application of mobile computing. My approach to the issues associated with mobile computing is to regard clinicians as falling into natural groupings based on specialty and physical location. These groupings define how the clinicians work and how mobile computing should be used. Clinicians will adopt mobile computing when there is a convergence of critical information-processing technologies and a clear demonstration of their point-of-care value.