Google Glass wearable health record to be used by hospitals

Demand for and interest in Google Glass apps for business use is steadily growing, and a California-based electronic medical record company has launched an app that allows doctors to keep a "wearable health record" for their patients.

The app comes from startup Drchrono and, with individual patients' permission, can keep a record of consultations and surgeries with photos and notes all stored electronically. These records can then be stored on cloud-based services and easily shared with relevant parties.

This opens up some security issues that San Francisco-based podiatrist Dr. Bill J. Metaxas has warned physicians considering the technology to bear in mind. Being sure to get patients' consent and "locking down security settings" are both important in ensuring the method is safe for everyone, he told Reuters.

Tablets such as the iPad are already widely used in clinics and hospitals, and one facility that uses Google Glass in the operating room and in consultations has claimed that 99 per cent of patients agree for the technology to be used.

A variety of similar apps for the wearable device are reportedly being developed with healthcare practitioners in mind, catering to the growing demand for technology that helps with day-to-day tasks and record keeping. If the use of Drchrono or another app becomes widespread, it could make cloud storage for patients' health records the norm, as well as offer many additional benefits for doctors.

Daniel Kivatinos, Drchrono co-founder, said at a recent event in San Francisco: "Google is still in the early-stages of determining the most viable use-cases for Google Glass. But some doctors are demanding Glass, so Google is providing resources and support to developers."

The company's electronic medical record service has 60,000 registered users, with 300 of these physicians reportedly using the Drchrono app already.