Revolutionizing Pediatric Care: Two Smartphone Apps Developed by Clinicians at the University of Pittsburgh and Intermountain Health

Advances in technology have led to the creation of two new smartphone apps that could revolutionize pediatric care. Developed by clinicians at the University of Pittsburgh and Intermountain Health in partnership with Picterus AS, these apps offer small solutions with far-reaching implications.

The first app, developed by clinicians at the University of Pittsburgh, uses an AI algorithm to detect acute otitis media (AOM) in young children. AOM is a common childhood infection that affects approximately 70% of children before their first birthday. The new app allows clinicians to easily analyze a patient’s eardrum via a camera-connected otoscope, resulting in a 93% success rate in identifying AOM. This is a significant improvement compared to the success rate of medical specialists, which typically ranges from 30% to 48%. With this tool, clinicians can quickly and accurately diagnose ear infections without the challenge of examining a squirming baby.

Another app, developed by Intermountain Health in partnership with Picterus AS, focuses on detecting jaundice in newborns. Jaundice affects about three out of every five babies in the U.S. shortly after birth and can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. The app uses a smartphone camera in combination with a laminated card to measure bilirubin levels in newborns, enabling quick and easy diagnosis without the need for a hospital visit for a blood test. This technology allows parents to monitor their babies at home and notify healthcare professionals immediately if jaundice is detected.

Marie DeFreitas, Associate Content Specialist at HealthLeaders highlights the importance of these new smartphone apps in revolutionizing pediatric care and providing affordable and effective solutions to common childhood health problems.

In conclusion, advances in technology have led to the development of two innovative applications that are changing the healthcare landscape by offering small solutions with far-reaching implications. These apps have significant potential to significantly impact pediatric care by providing accurate diagnoses without requiring hospital visits or invasive procedures.

The first app developed by clinicians at the University of Pittsburgh uses an AI algorithm to detect acute otitis media (AOM) in young children with high accuracy rates compared to medical specialists’ success rates. The second app developed by Intermountain Health focuses on detecting jaundice in newborns using smartphone cameras and laminated cards for quick and easy diagnosis without requiring hospital visits or invasive procedures.

Overall, these apps represent an important step forward towards making healthcare more accessible and efficient for families around the world.