The idea seems as if it could be straight from an episode of Star Trek.  Nurses and physicians using tablet-sized computers at a patient’s bedside in lieu of typical paper charts.  Then again, how unreasonable can that seem when robots are already being used to assist with surgeries?

But as each new wave of technology comes around, the health care industry is quick to see how it can be utilized to improve patient treatment.  Innovations in modern medicine such as x-ray technology really made health care professionals aware the final frontier had not yet been realized.  Now a new question is coming to light: Could tablet computers be the next big chapter in health technology?

In Iowa, one hospital is already attempting to boldly go where no medical professional has gone before.  At Cherokee Regional Medical Center (CRMC,) the new Apple iPad is getting its debut on the medical floor.

The initiative has been led by Jessica Mattioda, nurse supervisor at CRMC, who felt that the new tablet computing device could have many applications within her hospital.

“After hearing of paramedics using iPhones in the field, and seeing doctors use applications on PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants or palm top computers) to look up medication information, I thought that Cherokee Regional Medical Center could definitely benefit from this cutting edge computer technology. After researching the possibilities, I was confident that the iPads would be a good fit for our needs,” Jessica said.

The Apple iPad is the first device in a whole new generation of what are being dubbed as tablet computers.  Roughly the size of a notepad, the user installs specialized programs (known as “apps” in pop culture).  These apps are controlled on the tablet by touching one’s fingers to the screen to type, tap and manipulate objects within the app.

When first rolled out, Apple and other tech sources on the internet touted high hopes for its potential use in the health care industry.  Hospitals such as CRMC are finding many uses for the iPad so far, including the use of a surprisingly large library of apps that can assist with administrative tasks, tracking vitals and research.  Hospitals will also want to keep their eye out for apps that are designed for handling and sending electronic health records.  However, it goes without saying that security is everything in health care tech.  CRMC extensively researches all apps it is considering and ultimately only uses apps that come from verified sources.

While the concept of the tablet device is not new, Apple has set the bar high by modeling the iPad off of the iPhone, which has already broken many barriers in how users utilize mobile computing technology.  Even in a few short months since the iPad’s release, the competition already have their hands full when trying to design and curtail their own products that may attempt to challenge the iPad. This is important to know because Apple is not the lone dog in the show.  Companies such as HP and Cisco have already announced their own tablet devices and tech industry reports already indicate that over 50 tablet device products will be unveiled in 2010 alone.

Hospitals interested in incorporating this new technology will be wise to keep up with what’s coming out because while Apple’s iPad is designed with everyone’s uses in mind, certain devices are rumored to be in development that will have industry-specific purposes.  It’s possible that the best tablet option for Iowa’s hospitals has yet to be revealed.