medical equipment

The Apple iPhone is now becoming a medical device as developers find new and innovative uses for it. Medical professional's already have a variety of apps to help them in their jobs. However, new apps are now being created for a variety of people with medical needs.

These apps range from simple tracking applications like the Crohn's Toolkit which helps patients manage their disease better and give better data to their doctors to the soundAMP app that turns your iPhone into a digital hearing aid with record and playback capability.

Here is a list of apps I've found so far.

1. soundAMP - Turns iPhone or iPod Touch into an interactive hearing device
2. Crohn's Toolkit - Helps Crohn's and Colitis patients manage their condition better and
   communicate with their doctors.
3. iPrompt - One of a number of communication apps for use with children with developmental and language delays
4. Behavioral Tracker Pro - Supports tracking behavior and graphing it, including ABC therapy
5. Step Stones - Visual activity schedule for those with special needs or learning disabilities

UPDATE: I have created a wiki info page that anyone can update.

This article, Dos and Don’ts of Air Travel: Toddler Edition, from Wired got me thinking how different air travel is with our daughter than it was when we just had our son who had no medical equipment. So I figured I'd make an addendum to the article for parents traveling with kids who have special needs especially medical equipment. The Wired list was:

1. Don’t overpack
2. Don’t forget to check your stroller at the gate
3. Don’t freak out
4. Don’t worry about other people
5. Do pay attention
6. Do pack a few good gadgets and toys
7. Do bring an unseen “surprise” for good behavior
8. Do utilize the lavatory
9. Do prepare them

The advice is pretty good, but I'll have to disagree with number 1 when it comes to medical equipment. This is the stuff your child needs and there is no place for a plane to stop and get spares. We found this out on a plane ride from California to Texas and my daughter's suction pump broke. So there we were at 30,000 feet with no suction pump in case our daughter's trach was clogged. Luckily, we had a manual suction alternative that we could use and I was able to jury rig another alternative until we got a spare part, but it would have been easier to just have the spare on hand. Thus, here is my additions to the list.

• Make a list - This list should include every piece of medical equipment your child needs. Additionally, any items that are ever changed, list at least one more than is needed for the time you are traveling. Thus, if you use one kangaroo bag for your child's feeding tube per day and are traveling for seven days, list at least eight bags.
• Contact your medical equipment company - Ask if they have a travel department or facility at your destination. This is especially helpful when traveling to family. If your child would never need a particular piece of medical equipment except after you arrive, see if your equipment company can deliver a spare to you at your destination so you do not have to travel with it.
• Get a name and number at the medical equipment facility near your destination and bring it with you - This is in addition to the above so if anything does break, you are not panicking about who to call.
• Have a copy of all prescriptions - You want the prescriptions just in case there are any questions at security as well as if you need an emergency refill. While, you cannot use the copy to get the refill, it contains all the information a pharmacy needs to fill it, after contacting your pharmacy at home.
• Ship ahead - Take your list and box everything that is a spare except for what you need for the flight, one overnight stay in case you are delayed and the extra days worth of items that you included on the list. Try to ship about one month ahead of time so it costs less and you are sure it arrives. This is dependent on having someone that will receive it. So, if you are not traveling to friends or family you may need to check if your hotel would hold it for you.
• Pack electronic medical equipment together and make it easy to repack - You'll probably want to carry on all the medical equipment so it will not get lost. Security will make you take all the electronic equipment out and run it through like a laptop, so be prepared.
• Call the airline a week ahead of your first flight - The reservations folks can note any special equipment you are using (especially oxygen) or can tell you who you need to contact or what special things you need to do. I do not know about allergies (e.g. peanuts), but it probably would not hurt to call.
• Get to the airport early - You are going to take longer at check-in so you can once again inform them of your medical equipment and get pre-boarding passes. Also, security will probably take longer as well. So don't make their jobs harder by forcing them to rush so you can catch your flight.
• Relax and smile - The airline and security people probably don't encounter a child with your child's needs everyday. Therefore, if you are relaxed and smiling, they will most likely do the same and things should go smoother. This does not mean be a pushover and let them open sterile medical equipment, just try and make their jobs a little easier and they will probably be more helpful towards you.

If you have any more tips or advice add them below in the comments.