Name of the app: The Chief Complaint
Author: Written by Dr. Chris Feier, MD, and developed by ESCAVO Inc
Endorsement: The app does not specify whether it is FDA-approved. The app is developed by ESCAVO Inc., a recognized developer of mHealth applications; however, there appear to be no government endorsements. Reviews in the app store indicate that some medical professionals and academic institutions utilize and recommend the app.
Aesthetics: The app’s user-friendly layout, which categorizes information according to bodily systems, makes it easy to navigate. This design, which allows swift access to diagnoses, tools for drug lookup, medical calculators, and additional references, is especially advantageous for emergency medical professionals needing rapid information access. However, the app’s lack of uniformity in presentation can sometimes be confusing. When navigating through a system and selecting a possible diagnosis, there are varying formats for the subsequent information, such as algorithms, explanations, or outlines for diagnosis and treatment. The app can still be utilized effectively without instructions, provided the user has fundamental medical assessment skills.
Purpose: The app offers a user-friendly algorithmic approach as a quick-access tool to assist emergency room medical professionals in identifying and managing urgent medical conditions.
Clinical decision-making: The app can enhance clinical decision-making in emergencies by offering quick access to medical information organized by bodily systems. As noted in recent research by Siebert et al.(2021), using a mobile app significantly decreased the rate of errors in emergency drug preparation compared with conventional methods. This underscores the potential of such apps to support clinicians in high-pressure situations. However, some inconsistencies in how information is presented and the self-reported nature of the app’s claims make it hard to trust fully. While it is a helpful tool for finding information, providers should still rely on their clinical judgment to provide the best care for patients.
Safety: Based on the information presented, there is a potential risk for client harm if providers rely solely on the app for clinical decision-making. Although the app offers valuable resources, it includes explicit warnings advising users to prioritize clinical judgment over its information. If providers follow this warning, the risk to client safety remains minimal, as they will integrate the app’s resources with their expertise. However, ignoring this advice could compromise patient safety, leading to misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment. Thus, using the app as a supplementary tool rather than a primary resource is crucial to ensure the safest and best patient care.
Privacy/security: The app features a privacy policy that outlines what data it collects and how it is used. Importantly, it does not share Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (SPII) with third parties, except when necessary for its operations (Privacy Policy, 2024). However, it does not explicitly mention whether the data is encrypted. While it does not share information with social networks, the app collects some personal information for analytics, which might be shared with partners or advertisers (Privacy Policy, 2024). Users in the ESCAVO Clinical Community receive notifications about specific issues, like breaches of community terms. However, the policy does not clearly state how users would be informed if there were a privacy breach involving health information. Overall, the app seems to prioritize user privacy.
User: Emergency room medical professionals, including providers and nursing staff, are increasingly utilizing this app. Notably, the new generation of nurses and providers, who are proficient with smartphones, regard clinical decision-support applications as vital tools for improving the efficiency of patient care (Gartrell et al., 2023). As a result, they are likely to be the most frequent users of this app.
Credibility: The information provided in the app store, per Escavo Inc. (2015), states that the app has been “peer-reviewed by leading physicians in emergency medicine” and claims to be based on the clinical guidebook “The Chief Complaint.” This guidebook, authored by Dr. Chris Feier, MD, is a recognized reference in emergency medicine. However, assessing the app’s credibility and verifying its accuracy is challenging because these claims are self-reported.
Relevance: The Chief Complaint app is based on a guidebook by Dr. Chris Feier, MD, which adds credibility. However, its last update was in October 2023, raising concerns about how well it reflects current medical practices, as guidelines change frequently. While the app claims to be peer-reviewed by experts in emergency medicine, it is essential to evaluate how effective this review process is and how often updates occur. Regular updates and transparent evaluation processes are essential to ensure the app stays current, as outdated content could negatively impact patient care.