The first smartphone app specifically developed for cancer surgery patients in the United States and released earlier this summer by the Center for Cancer Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital is gaining attention with nearly 1,000 users already downloading the app.
Since its release in June, the app is now among the top searched choices for the keywords “cancer” and “surgery” in the Apple app store and so far, a couple hundred of patients have used the app, says Dr. Steven Kalkanis, director of the Center for Cancer Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital. And he says the app has has “gotten glowing reviews.”
The new app allows patients to access detailed information about treatment options by cancer type, secure GPS mapping to appointment locations, and connect to their electronic medical record.
“Our hope is that this app will … help to alleviate much of the stress and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis by providing (patients) with the tools and resources they need at their fingertips,” Kalkanis says. “With cancer, there are so many aspects to a patient’s care. We’ve attempted to put everything a patient might need to help them navigate the whole process in one convenient setting.”
In addition, the app allows patients to connect directly to a cancer specialist or a nurse via the Center for Cancer Surgery’s 24-hour hotline, “meet” their health care team through photos and profiles, and request a first appointment, second opinion, or consultation.
Kalkanis says the Henry Ford Vattikuti Urology Institute also has a smartphone app for patients: “We sort of based our app on that and tried to make it a bit more personalized and interactive.”
To learn more or to download the app, visit henryford.com/center-for-cancer-surgery-mobile-app.
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