JUNE 14TH 2016
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| A new app could make it easier for doctors to assess patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (WHAM photo
Rochester, N.Y. - Getting to the doctor can be difficult for people who have Parkinson's disease and cannot drive - or even walk - without help.
Now, there is literally "an app for that." It can help doctors assess a patient's motor function.
"We ask people to tap into their iPhone, to speak into their iPhone, to keep it in their pocket as they walk, so it measures things like balance, speed of movement, vocal issues," said Dr. Kevin Biglan, a neurologist with the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Sensors in the phone capture and record minute differences and flag even the subtlest of changes over time.
"It really just facilitates our ability to adjust medications," said Dr. Biglan. "I think it's critically important, as opposed to having someone suffer along for months at a time."
The new technology is about more than just convenience; it connects hundreds of patients with specialists they would not otherwise see.
"The hope is everyone with Parkinson's disease can access medical care, no matter where they live," said Biglan.
URMC has received a grant to supply telemedicine to 500 people in the Rochester area.
The Parkinson's app is compatible with the iPhone and can be downloaded for free.
http://13wham.com/news/top-stories/new-app-could-provide-help-for-parkinsons-patients-doctors
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