TEDMED wants to fix Medical Communication, and have asked us to help!

TEDMED has selected several Great Challenges, and are hosting online discussions with expert panelists for each topic. Our CEO and Co-Founder John Cox has been asked to participate as one of the expert panelists in Improving Medical Communication.

Visible Health’s flagship product, drawMD, solves this exact problem by providing physicians with a simple, interactive, visual way to explain complex conditions and procedures to patients. Patients can clearly see the process, eliminating all the medical jargon, and can take the image and notations with them to refer to later.  The tool inspires collaboration, and unlike many other technologies, strengthens the physician/patient bond. Learn more about drawMD at www.drawMD.com. 

With new standards in physician accountability, combined with new tools for patients to be involved in their care, physician/patient communication is in the spotlight more than ever before. Physicians are not typically trained in interpersonal communications and are not rewarded based on their communication skills. Equally important, patients are often intimidated when talking to doctors and often feel they don’t have a receptive audience, especially when doctors are rushed. TedMED seeks to find what can be done about this on both sides of the challenge (patients and doctors) — including possible initiatives ranging from education to technology, to changes in the physical workspace.

“In my roles at Visible Health and Escalation Point, I am fortunate to work closely with physicians and other clinical entrepreneurs. There are a number of challenges in my day-to-day experiences with clinical entrepreneurs that parallel the challenges that clinicians and patients face in their efforts to work more as a team. We believe that technology will make better collaboration possible to the benefit of the individuals involved as well as the healthcare system as a whole,” says Cox. “I’m excited to be chosen as part of the TEDMED team, and look forward to shaping the future of healthcare.”

John also serves as the Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Escalation Point, a health technology startup based in Austin, TX specializing in mobile applications, software applications, and incubating health IT startups.

Fellow TEDMED Great Challenges Team Members include:

• James Merlino, MD, Chief Experience Officer, Cleveland Clinic Health System
• Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA, Founder, Health in 30
• Robert Arnold, MD, Director, Institute for Doctor-Patient Communication, University of Pittsburgh
• Joseph Kvedar, MD, Founder and Director, Center for Connected Health
• Selma Caal, Ph.D, Research Scientist, Child Trends Lead Author

The drawMD suite of apps has hit 200,000 downloads!

“We’re incredibly excited and energized by the response to our apps by physicians, nurses, patients and others.” says Visible Health CEO John Cox. “The enthusiasm we’ve seen really speaks to the idea that physicians and other clinical specialists are really clamoring for and embracing mobile-based solutions. We have some really wonderful products and services in our pipeline, and we are looking forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the healthcare community.”

drawMD apps help clinicians visually explain complex conditions and treatment options to patients and their families, increasing patient health literacy while improving patient consultation efficiency. Designed by two surgeons, Harvard Medical School classmates Dr. Alexander Kutikov and Dr. Todd Morgan, partnering with technology and product expert John Cox of Escalation Point, drawMD seeks to improve patient understanding of medical problems.  drawMD utilizes the iPad’s unique interface to allow anyone to sketch, stamp, or type directly on the detailed anatomic images included in the application. Learn more at drawmd.com.

Experienced physicians consult on each specialty to ensure that the applications provide the most relevant, useful tools for specific conditions and procedures, while improving the efficiency and consistency of patient consultations. Meet our medical consultants at drawMD.com/Consultants.

There are 11 drawMD specialty apps so far, including Urology, Anesthesia and Critical Care, Orthopedics, Cardiology, Pediatrics and the mot popular, General Surgery.

drawMD has received several great reviews lately, including features in New York Times, NPR and Information Week, as well as several medical journals and blogs.  “This suite of apps from drawMD alone gives physicans a legitimate reason to buy an iPad” says iMedical Apps reviewer Iltifat Husain in a recent article. View the press at www.drawmd.com/buzz.

The drawMD team is expanding again with the release of Pediatrics!

drawMD breaks down barriers of patient engagement by creating products that doctors use to provide personalized, easily-understandable information about conditions and treatments without costing doctors valuable time.

drawMD Pediatrics is designed to aid a physician in improving parent and patient understanding of common pediatric conditions and treatment options.  Drawings created can be emailed to the parent with a quick click, so parents know exactly what to expect, and the simple visual guide easily explains complex procedures or conditions in a non-threatening way.  Saved files and emails can also serve as a permanent record of the discussion.

“Communication is key to fostering a strong and growing relationship with pediatric patients and their families,” says Jessica K. Kutikov, a Pediatrician in Voorhees, NJ. She continues, “Relaying complex medical concepts about both acute and chronic illnesses is a daily part of what Pediatricians do, and drawMD is an extremely useful tool to teach and guide families and their children. Not only hearing about but also “seeing” their illness through illustrations that are constructed right in front of the patient can be very important to a family’s understanding and subsequent compliance with treatment. Having an app like this makes each patient encounter much more worthwhile and effective. My patients have been very receptive and even thankful for the insights that drawMD helped me communicate to them.”

drawMD is a suite of applications for the iPad that taps into the power of the mobile touch platform to help explain complex medical issues and possible medical and surgical solutions. Designed by two surgeons seeking to improve patient understanding of medical problems, drawMD utilizes the iPad’s unique interface to allow anyone to sketch, stamp, or type directly on the detailed anatomic images included in the application. Other applications include Urology, Anesthesia and Critical Care, Orthopedics, Cardiology and General Surgery.

See drawMD Pediatrics in the App Store

Visit drawMD.com

Pediatrics Ear Canal

Powered by Escalation Point - www.escalation-point.com/solutions

drawMD has released new updates to make our apps even more usable. Download them today, and let us know what you think!

What’s new in Version 2.6.399

• Resolved issues with deleting saved images
• Smoother performance when moving stamps
• Addressed intermittent issue preventing saved drawings action
• Fixed issue sending older saved drawings as PDF and canvas-only drawings
• Expanded support for Printopia and FingerPrint AirPrint tools
• Integrated feedback form

To learn more, visit www.drawmd.com.

For drawMD support, visit support.drawmd.com.

Our Medical Artist Joanna Culley provides detailed, beautiful, anatomically correct images that are the foundation for all of drawMD apps. Since her work is so key to how you use the apps, we want to introduce her. Joanna is based in the UK and has been working with drawMD since 2011. You can see her work in the Cardiology, Orthopedics, Anesthesia,  and soon to be released Vascular, Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery apps.

Why medical illustrations as a career? 

Joanna: ”I always had a knack for drawing from an early age, so after school (age 18)  I went to study Natural History Illustration at Bournemouth College of Art and Design. I got into medical illustration, because my style of drawing was to try to capture an exact replica of what I saw, a ‘realism’ interpretation I suppose. I also have a huge passion for the natural world, so it seemed appropriate to concentrate my drawings on animals, plant life, natural world.

When I want to University, it was by pure luck that it happened to be one of the few where I could specialise in Scientific and Medical illustration. This was the study of animal anatomy, human anatomy, botany, entomology, etc and was perfect because it required drawing and illustration to an incredible degree of accuracy.  You only drew items from life, or from cased specimens in the London museums, sometimes even measuring the parts so it was absolutely anatomically accurate.

My company and services are unusual because alongside the modern 3D work, we also supply very traditional medical art, such a watercolour, pen and ink and pencil.”

What Education and Qualifications do you have?

Joanna: ”At Bournemouth College of Arts and Design, i got B.T.E.C in Illustration, after which I went to University in London UK, and gained a degree in Scientific and Medical Illustration called a Bachelor or Arts with Honours. I also went on to complete a post graduate course with the Medical Artists’ Association of Great Britain (http://www.maa.org.uk) to become a Registered Medical Illustration Practitioner (RMIP).  Through that, I  become a professional member of the Medical Artist’s Association of Great Britain (MMAA).

I was taught by a professor of anatomy using cadavers. I am also just applying for membership to the USA Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) (http://www.ami.org/) and I am a member of the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) (http://www.imi.org.uk). “

What drew you to drawMD?

Joanna: ”I now work freelance as a full time medical illustrator, and as Creative Director also own and run a small company called Innovation Visual Limited, alongside Managing Director Tim Butler.  The  Medical-Artist.com site is part of Innovation Visual Ltd, and is a UK based, independant specialist medical art and medical illustration business, suppling medical illustration, medical animation, 3d visualisations to clients now all over the world.

I started working for drawMD in 2011, and have formed a great working partnership. I’ve gotten to keep to the realism style I am known for, creating as much a likeness to the real anatomy as possible under the expert guidance of founding physicians Todd Morgan and Alexander Kutikov. What has been terrific on this project is to be involved with such an innovative project, to improve doctor-patient communication explaining such things treatment plans.  The purpose of medical illustration is to aid patient education,  and what better way than using an existing format of illustration, and using the latest technologies through an app.”

That sounds cool! What other work have you done?

Joanna: ”Current projects include completing an exhibition for the Royal College of Surgeons, England. See work and links here:

drawMD is expanding, bringing the suite of apps to 10 specialties with the launch of Vascular today.

Vascular surgeons can now easily explain complex heart conditions and procedures to patients and colleagues. The image template library, which continues to grow, includes images of aortic and iliac aneurysms and repairs, bypass surgeries, carotid stenosis and angioplasty, upper and lower extremity vasculature, peripheral artery disease and thrombosis, and thoracic cavity anatomy and conditions.

All drawMD apps are free, and can be easily downloaded from the app store. Download vascular today!

drawMD seeks to improve the efficiency and clarity of patient consultations by using detailed anatomically correct images and stamps to explain complex medical procedures and conditions. Using the iPad, doctors create visual guides to explain possible medical and surgical conditions and procedures.  Simply select one of the detailed, anatomic images specific to each specialty or upload a new one, and then sketch, stamp, or type directly on the images. Doctors can then share the images with the patient with a quick click, and save images for office files and Electronic Health Records.

drawMD Vascular in the App Store

drawMD is the flagship product of Visible Health.

All drawMD apps are getting a facelift! We’re updating all the apps to v2.5. Cardiology and Urology got a lot of new features, so check out the new benefits, and let us know what you think.

Overall Features and Enhancements:

・Improved line drawing performance and smoothness for the iPad 3
・Stamp palette now displays in scrollable list view with stamp names
・All stamps now available on blank and custom backgrounds
・”Waiting indicator” display to show progress when sending and saving images
・Message alerts if email is not configured
・Message alerts if the iPad is not configured to print
・Email CC default setting added so office or PA can be included in all communication
・Enhanced feedback and support submission
・App version number displays on the home screen

Bug Fixes:

・Fixed intermittent crashes experienced when switching palettes and saving
・Fixed iCloud installation preventing image saving and loss of saved images

We want to hear from you!  Do you have ideas for new features, or ways to improve the app? Let us know, and you may be selected to be a beta tester. Send feedback to support@drawMD.com or visit www.support.drawmd.com.

The drawMD family is expanding again, with the help of Grace Medical! The newest product, drawMD Otolarygology (ENT) is now available in the app store.

drawMD ENT in the App Store

drawMD breaks down barriers of patient engagement by creating products that doctors use to provide personalized, easily-understandable information about conditions and treatments without costing doctors valuable time.

“We are thrilled to be sponsoring such a great physician and patient tool like drawMD.  Grace Medical is dedicated to bringing the best technology available to the ENT marketplace, and drawMD directly relates to that goal. We’re very excited about the potential that drawMD can bring to the ENT field, and happy to be a part of that vision,” says Mike Crook, Senior Vice President for Grace Medical.

John Cox, CEO and President of Visible Health, the company that creates drawMD, says “We’re happy to have Grace Medical as a partner to help increase patient communications and engagement in the Otolaryngology field. Grace Medical’s commitment to new technologies is helping us reach more doctors to share this valuable service.

Using the iPad, doctors can create interactive visual guides as a way to explain complex issues and possible medical and surgical solutions. They simply select one of the detailed, anatomic images or upload their own, and then sketch, stamp, or type directly on the images.  The images and stamps are preloaded into the app, and are tailored specifically to Otolaryngology. Doctors can share the images with the patient with a quick click.  Saved files and emails can also serve as a permanent record of the discussion for office files and Electronic Health Records.

About Grace Medical:

Grace Medical offers the latest in technology for the Otolaryngologist.  The Grace product line features an innovative and diverse offering of middle ear implants, stapes prostheses and ventilation tubes.  Products are designed in conjunction with leading surgeons throughout the world and delivered with exceptional quality and service.

About drawMD:

Designed by two surgeons seeking to improve patient understanding of medical problems, drawMD improves the efficiency and clarity of patient consultations. Other drawMD applications include Urology, Anesthesia and Critical Care, Orthopedics, Cardiology, Female Pelvic Surgery and General Surgery. drawMD is the flagship product of Visible Health of Austin, TX.

The drawMD team is expanding again, with the help of Hologic! The newest product, drawMD OB/GYN, is now available in the app store.

drawMD OB/GYN in the App Store

drawMD breaks down barriers of patient engagement by creating products that doctors use to provide personalized, easily-understandable information about conditions and treatments without costing doctors valuable time.

John Cox, CEO and President of Visible Health, the parent company of drawMD, says “Partners like Hologic are critical to drawMD’s success. Hologic’s sponsorhip allows us to not only reach more physicians, but allows us to provide even more detailed, medically correct stamps to use in images, creating a more thorough consultation experience and improving patient engagement and understanding. “

Using the iPad, OB/GYNs can create interactive visual guides as a way to explain complex issues and possible medical and surgical solutions. They simply select one of the detailed, anatomic images or upload their own and then sketch, stamp, or type directly on the images.  The images and stamps are preloaded into the app and are tailored specifically to each doctor’s preference. OB/GYNs can share the images with the patient with a quick click.  Saved files and emails can also serve as a permanent record of the discussion for office files and Electronic Health Records.

The drawMD team is expanding again! The newest product, Female Pelvic Surgery, is now available in the app store.

drawMD breaks down barriers of patient engagement by creating products that doctors use to provide personalized, easily-understandable information about conditions and treatments without costing doctors valuable time. Download drawMD and improve practice engagement and efficiency today!

drawMD Female Pelvic Surgery is designed to aid a physician in improving patient understanding of proposed surgical procedures, or to help a patient gain better understanding of treatment options from their physician.  Pyhsicians can enter in patient’ email address and send the drawings discussed with a quick click.  Saved files and emails can also serve as a permanent record of the discussion.

drawMD is a suite of applications for the iPad that taps into the power of the mobile touch platform to help explain complex medical issues and possible medical and surgical solutions. Designed by two surgeons seeking to improve patient understanding of medical problems, drawMD utilizes the iPad’s unique interface to allow anyone to sketch, stamp, or type directly on the detailed anatomic images included in the application. Other applications include Urology, Anesthesia and Critical Care, Orthopedics, Cardiology and General Surgery.

Escalation Point has served as the product services partner for UrologyMatch and drawMD, providing product strategy, design, development, and product management services across all technology products.

See drawMD Female Pelvic Surgery in the App Store

Visit drawMD.com

drawMD Reviews:

iMedicalApps - DrawMD is a great tool to help surgeons visually explain procedures

Med City News - 5 Ways Hospitals are Using the iPad 

HealthCommunication.com - drawMD listed in top 50 apps for physicians