Tablets transforming healthcare practices

Of the many industries that can take advantage of recent advances in mobile technology, perhaps one of the greatest beneficiaries is the healthcare sector. According to a recent whitepaper from research firm Frost & Sullivan, tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices are quickly becoming indispensable to healthcare professionals.

The report notes that today’s tablet computers, in particular, are making a huge impact on the healthcare industry. Though tablet devices have been used by medical providers for years, recent developments have made them more useful than ever.

Today’s tablets are slimmer, lighter and more powerful than the devices of old. Caregivers can use tablets for a wide range of applications, such as accessing electronic health records, reviewing medical reference libraries and quickly recalling lab results.

“The healthcare sector has never been known for being an early adopter of information technology,” says Frost & Sullivan analyst Jeanine Sterling. “However, now there are innovative, powerful mobile devices that must be recognized as absolutely key to expanding and improving patient care, to controlling costs and to complying with regulatory mandates.”

Of course, the healthcare sector isn’t the only industry to show an enthusiasm for media tablets. As the technology continues to mature and become a crucial enterprise tool, research firm In-Stat predicts tablet sales will reach nearly 175 million by 2015.