Tablet use, telemedicine growing in step

An increasing number of physicians, nurses and other health practitioners are leveraging mobile technology to improve their operations, and as a result, the telemedicine market is expected to grow more than 300 percent by 2018, according to a study by WinterGreen Research.

The tablet computer, in particular, is fueling this enormous growth, WinterGreen says. More healthcare providers are using the mobile devices for telemedicine practices, enabling the delivery of care directly to the patient rather than requiring an expensive hospital visit or trip to the emergency room.

According to the study, the "telemedicine-dedicated" software and device markets will reach $2.5 billion by 2018, up from $736 million in 2011.

A separate report from CIO magazine shows that tablets also enable healthcare providers to improve their workflow and concentrate more on patient care rather than administrative tasks.

Though the healthcare industry has traditionally been slower than others to embrace new technology, mobile devices seem to be garnering early enthusiasm as care providers recognize the advantages smartphones and tablets can offer.