New iPad App Lets You “Solve the Outbreak”

Posted on May 14, 2013 by m.sherman

Have you ever wondered how disease outbreaks are started and controlled? Do you love movies about disease outbreaks, like 28 Days Later? If the answer is yes to these questions, you need to download the free new iPad app called Solve the Outbreak.

Solve The OutbreakCreated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Solve the Outbreak allows users to become Epidemic Intelligence Service agents, run through fictional outbreaks and make tough health decisions on what to do next. Would you quarantine a small community if there was a deadly disease outbreak? Request more lab results first?

In the app, fictional outbreaks are based on real-life cases. Players go through the evidence and earn points based on their answers. The better the answers, the higher the score and the faster lives are saved. Users start out as trainees and earn badges by solving cases, with the goal of earning the top rank: Disease Detective.

More than just a game, Solve the Outbreak is a great interactive way for people to learn the study of epidemiology and how real disease outbreaks are controlled around the globe. There is also a social aspect to the game as the app allows users to post their scores on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more about Solve the Outbreak and other new interactive apps that are expanding healthcare education, contact Wax Custom Communications at 305-350-5700 or visit waxcom.com.

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Video Games Aren’t Just About Having Fun…They Are Improving Healthcare

Posted on May 9, 2013 by m.sherman

What do you think of when you hear “video games” – Super Mario Bros. or Sonic The Hedgehog on a Nintendo or Sega Genesis? Think again. Video games have evolved into much more than an entertainment portal or a way for kids to stay out of trouble.

They’re being used in a variety of therapeutic ways to help improve health such as:

  • Treating Dyslexia – A recent study found that video games, specifically ones that involve action, help children dealing with dyslexia. The games allowed kids to read faster and helped them to better focus their attention.
  • Help in Learning –Gone are the days of Donkey Kong. Many video games now tell a story and have a plot, like World of Warcraft. This can be motivating for people with autism and demonstrate how they can increase their interpersonal skills and provide a feeling of self accomplishment.
  • Combat Pain – A virtual reality game called SnowWorld can help patients with severe burns. Based on the idea that pain competes with other mental stimuli for attention spans, the game helps burn victims feel better. Patients are actively involved in the game, so they can’t devote their resources in thinking about their burns.

To learn more about how new technology, including video games, is changing medicine for the better contact Wax Custom Communications at 305-350-5700 or visit waxcom.com.

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Let Your iPhone Take Your Temperature

Posted on May 6, 2013 by m.sherman

The iPhone is a pretty amazing device. It seems like it can do almost everything. From treating Amblyopia – lazy eye – to serving as a digital health concierge, this handheld device, with its ability to tackle so many aspects of health, seems to be the true definition of a smartphone.

Now add the thermometer to the list of useful purposes the iPhone serves. You can take your own temperature or someone else’s right from the iPhone using the Kinsa Smart Thermometer. The device simply connects to the iPhone headphone jack. The app will display the patient’s temperature almost immediately on the screen.

Smart-ThermometerWhat makes it even more advanced is that it can provide treatment advice and other information on what to watch for if the symptom gets worse. The app can even call your doctor and book an appointment at a local medical facility with the touch of a button. It will also allow users to create profiles and keep records of their temperature so they can closely monitor their health over time.

It is pretty amazing that just 10 years ago, a device like the iPhone seemed like something out of a faraway future. Now the capabilities are endless and the advances it is providing in healthcare are truly remarkable. For more information on how mobile technology is advancing medicine and how your medical facility can be a part of it contact Wax Custom Communications at 305-350-5700 or visit waxcom.com.

 

 

 

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Support Critical When Treating Mental Health

Posted on April 29, 2013 by m.sherman

One of the biggest problems for people who suffer from mental health conditions is isolation. They don’t know where to turn because they are embarrassed or even in denial about their condition.

Typically, when people acknowledge they are depressed or have other mental health issues, they visit a doctor, support group or therapist. But many don’t have access to care or a support group.

mental health support groupsFor financially strapped people who deal with behavioral health issues, a new social network website called Peer will help. What makes Peer unique is its support chat network. Peer will allow users to log in and communicate by video, audio or text with people who have similar issues and backgrounds.

Users of Peer will be able to view groups organized by common mental health symptoms, and more general aspects, such as emotional and spiritual categories. Once a user chooses a group, he or she will be assigned another person on the network to speak with, either randomly or by personal selection. Groups include people dealing with depression, anxiety and substance abuse.

Currently, the community is only available via Facebook and Twitter. When it does go live, Peer could become a useful support site for those dealing with mental illness. For more information on Peer and other ways technology and new ways of communication are conquering mental health problems, contact Wax Custom Communications at 305-350-5700 or visit waxcom.com.

 

 

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An Innovative Way to Cure “Lazy Eye”

Posted on April 24, 2013 by m.sherman

Amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, is an eye disorder that affects between 1 and 5 percent of the population. Lazy eye occurs when the vision in one eye does not develop properly. Another cause is strabismus, where one eye turns inward or outward. Without treatment it can lead to permanent vision loss in the weak eye.

Usually treatment for amblyopia is to cover the stronger eye with a patch so the “lazy eye” is forced to work harder. Many have to wear that patch for long periods of time which can be frustrating and uncomfortable.

Now, according to a study by McGill University in Canada and research in the UK, the popular mobile game of Tetris may be a good treatment for curing lazy eye. Following the Tetris pieces down the screen can cause both eyes to work together.

During the study, 18 subjects with amblyopia wore a special pair of goggles and played Tetris for an hour, first with the affected eye covered, then with both eyes uncovered.

The study revealed when both eyes worked together, vision improved. This shows that forcing both eyes to cooperate increases the level of adaptability in the brain, which ultimately allows the weak eye to relearn how to see.

To learn more about how technology is improving all forms of health, contact Wax Custom Communications at 305-350-5700 or visit waxcom.com.

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