Introduction
The app is called MediCalc, standing for Medical Calculator System.
The app was created, developed, and maintained by ScyMed, Inc. The author is known from the app publisher, though the publisher can be a hired professional apps developer approved by Apple Inc. However, the originator of the idea is considered the creator of the app, as they know the exact purpose of the application. In this case, the app is developed by board-certified physicians in the United States of America.
Endorsement
According to the information provided in App Store, the app is developed by a team of board-certified physicians in the USA. This indicates that the app is endorsed by medical practitioners in different fields who may have contributed their discipline-specific knowledge in developing the app features to meet the intended needs. Any professional body does not endorse the app since medical attention is a complex activity that cannot be left to nonprofessionals to pursue as they choose.
Operation
The app is currently available in app store only and can be accessed by all users in the world who can access the platform. According to the app store details about the application, medicalc can be operated on supported mobile and desktop devices. However, the app is only effective if a user has the latest version installed since previous versions are likely to have outdated information or lack current solutions to some medical issues.
Aesthetics
The app is simple to use from the design and features having core functionalities. For instance, a person looking for a specific solution to a medical problem can check a screen where all the diseases and medical conditions are listed and explore the preferred one. A patient suffering from renal disease can click the “renal” and explore different areas where the specific disease has been highlighted. This results in the user clicking a particular choice and selecting “calculate,” which determines the patient’s fluids to manage or treat the malady affecting them. Consequently, the app is designed such that the user does not need any more instructions to use the app.
Purpose
Medicalc has unique features that allow patients to calculate the average amount of fluids or drugs their bodies need for a specific disease affecting them or people they know. In particular, updates such as the integration with McAlx enable users to customize their medical calculations based on patient-specific numerical determinations. This allows the users to add equations and determined scores available in the ad library to a single Interface or panel and then calculate the final fluids or drug concentration in the body at a given time.
Clinical decision making
The clinical decision is a crucial decision, which the app does not consider giving as the decision relies on the user’s accuracy. The app only allows users to calculate the fluids or drug concentrations associated with the type of medication they May require for a particular disease (Milani ET AL., 2017). Therefore, the information provided in the app does not replace professional advice when a non-medical user utilizes the app to determine such values.
Safety
The app is safe to use by anyone who wishes to utilize its functions without compromising the user’s safety. For instance, the app does not collect users’ information, except in certain situations where the users May wish to disclose their information. Since no data can identify a particular user, there is no direct harm associated with using the app.
Privacy/Security
According to the information provided on the app store, the app creators did not give any privacy policy statements. This can be attributed to the fact that the app does not share any information that can identify its users and does not allow them to communicate. Moreover, since there is no sign-in required, the app does not connect with other social media accounts where it can collect users’ information. Moreover, there is no need for a statement of encryption of data since the app only allows users to determine the costs associated with the kind of medical attention they May require.
Users
Medicalc is mainly available for users who have devices supported by app store, such as iphones.
Distribution
Moreover, the app can be accessed from across the world as Long as the user has such devices that are correct to the technological requirements.
Credibility
The credibility of the information cannot be determined precisely since it is not endorsed by designated bodies that license medical provisions in any country. However, since board-approved physicians developed the app from different fields in the medical sector, the information within the app has a greater extent of credibility. However, a significant challenge occurs when various health providers charge differently for the services they provide, which is mostly the case.
Relevance
The app is regularly updated to accommodate new information and current trends in the medical sector. For instance, version 10.2, which is the latest version, was updated on October 16, 2020. This version captures information that has not changed much. However, the app and its functionality do not correspond to any literature or standards. This happens because different patients have different medical needs based on human diversity and age differences.
The app can be used in a real-case scenario where, for instance, a diabetic patient may have experienced an issue at home and would like to understand the kind of medications to take or the amounts of fluid needed to balance the body. In this case, the app would provide inputs that the user has utilized and the new quantities needed for optimal body functionality.
The same case can also be used practically by a nurse who wishes to know the number of fluids they need to administer to the patient based on the available information. The caregiver will enter information such as age, history of the disease, fluid administered previously, the fluid excreted or voided, and any other those taken by the patient. With this information, the app can calculate the amount of fluid remaining in the body and the volume needed depending on the time of day (Milani et al., 2017). The information obtained at the point of care by the nurse can help the caregiver provide quality health care, hence speeding up the healing process. However, the nurses should also know what is expected of them. Moreover, the caregivers must understand how to administer different fluids without relying on the calculations obtained from the app.
Conclusion
The implementation and the use of the app make it possible for caregivers to be consistent with health care administration. A nurse who understands how the app works and the calibrations of various medical equipment can consistently use the app and attain continuously accurate information.
Reference
Milani, G. P., Groothoff, J. W., Vianello, F. A., Fossali, E. F., Paglialonga, F., Edefonti, A., Agostoni, C., Consonni, D., van Harskamp, D., van Goudoever, J.B. and Schierbeek, H. (2017). Bioimpedance and fluid status in children and adolescents treated with dialysis. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 69(3), 428-435.