Shauna Leigh Davies*, University of Regina, Regina, Canada Track: Practice Presentation Topic: Mobile & Tablet Health Applications Presentation Type: Rapid-Fire Presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: Mermaid Room: Room 2 - Aldgate/Bishopsgate Date: 2013-09-23 02:00 PM – 03:30 PM Last modified: 2013-09-25

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Today's health care environment is client driven and today's client is technology driven. Health professionals working within the All Nations' Healing Hospital and First Nations Health Services of the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council (Fort Qu'Appelle, Sk) introduced iPads and medical related applications into their practice. The iPad is an ideal tool for client education as it allows for the downloading of applications, or apps, which are self-contained computer programs that run directly on the device home screen. Currently available apps range from nutrition guides, calorie counting and exercise programs to blood pressure monitoring, diabetes management and information on cardiovascular health. The use of mobile technology and medical apps provided registered nurses, nurse practitioners, clients, and family members with relevant health information directly at the point of care within all health care settings, such as the hospital, community clinic, or patient's home. Registered nurses and nurse practitioners used mobile technology to educate the client and to demonstrate how to effectively utilize medical applications. Using a mixed methods participatory action research approach, this project focused on assessing the impact of the use of medical and health applications on the clients' and family's enhanced understanding of their condition, diagnosis and treatment plan, as well as identifying the barriers and facilitators to the utilization of mobile technology in the rural and remote health care environments. Preliminary findings indicated that while the focus was on use for patient education, health professionals found creative ways to utilize the iPad in practice to improve patient care.