GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Mayo Clinic Apps Diagnose Ills and Soothe Mind, Spirit

R. Colin Johnson | Date: 01-12-10 | Comments

A startup spun-off from the legendary Mayo Clinic aims to put a doctor-in-your-pocket that can diagnose ailments as well as align your mind, body and spirit.

A joint collaboration between the Mayo Clinic and DoApp is extending the expertise of one of the most respected medical facilities in the world. Called mRemedy (Rochester, N.Y.), the company has already released its first app aimed at soothing the mind and reducing stress, while Mayo Clinic's second app will focus on your body.

"Our desire is to make the Mayo Clinic more reachable globally on a variety of fronts--mRemedy will be more than just a mobile app company," said Kathleen Anderson, spokesperson for Mayo Clinic. "We're putting the mobile Internet experts at DoApp together with Mayo Clinics' very robust medical expertise to find ways for physicians and patients to better connect with each other."

Last year, the Mayo Clinic's invention arm--its Office of Intellectual Property--put together a revenue-sharing model whereby Mayo Clinic doctors can disclose their therapeutic ideas for apps which, if approved, are then programmed for the iPhone or iPod Touch and sold in the Apple online store (with support for other smartphones to follow).

The first app is called Mayo Clinic Meditation ($4.95) and instructs users on how to calm their minds. Originally developed as an instructional DVD by Mayo Clinic physician Amit Sood at its Complementary and Integrative Medicine practice, the techniques which Sood has perfected in his practice over several years feature a meditation therapy that "crosses the boundary between mind, body and spirit," according to Anderson.

The second app, to be released later this year, will be a free "Symptom Checker" that allows users with a medical concern to type in their symptoms and get instant feedback on possible maladies, remedies and alternative therapies.

"Our second app will come from the Mayo Clinic's global products and services area--a symptom checker app that works like the one at MayoClinic.com, but which will be made available as a free download so you can use it anywhere, anytime," said Anderson.

The symptom checker not only defines your possible malady, and tells you its most common causes, but also tells you when to see a doctor about it.

For instance, if you type in "eye twitching" it tells you that slight, involuntary movement of the eyelid's most common causes are alcohol, caffeine, fatigue, lack of sleep, physical exertion, smoking or stress, and that in rare cases can be the result of certain brain and nerve disorders. You should see a physician if your eye twitches don't go away within three weeks, your eyelid completely closes with each twitch, your twitching happens in other parts of your face as well, or if your eye is red, swollen, has a discharge, or if you notice that your eyelid is drooping.