Fiat rolls out Microsoft-driven - Doc on Wheels?

Fiat is not alone, Ford Motor is right up there as well. Now why did we include this on a medical blog? Do doctors and patients drive cars? Well of course they do or at least most that I know. With the advances in telemedicine give this some real thought. There are both pros and cons here. When using your blue tooth phone you will be able to connect the device to the USB connector in the glove compartment, thus you are now connected to all the resources available on the cell phone. Picture driving down the road and a patient calls and some of the information you may require is available for on the cell phone. Voice technologies are making this easier to access without distracting your eyes from the road, but as we all know this is a distraction of it's own nature, gosh knows I have missed freeway ramps, etc. while just speaking on the hands free cell phone myself, but will patients in time begin to demand this type of communication from their physicians? Smart thing to do of course in this instance is to pull of the road and continue without being behind the wheel.

With the new technology, most of the technology will be available from the steering wheel, but again, there are still times when even voice communication is terribly distracting. Opt for some music in this case and shut off the phone calls!

If you are making a house call though, this could be very helpful in finding a patient's home though. Kind of gives a new meaning to "Doc on Wheels" if you will. The USB connection solves holding a cell phone and trying to focus on driving, but again as mentioned above, you do need a certain level of focus to discuss matters too.

Anyway, the reason for including this article is simply to create an awareness of what's to come and address one more challenge with using IT in healthcare. In a few years the occupation of a physician will continue to change dramatically from how we react and interface today...some good things and some things that we will all need to balance. BD

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Rather than sitting on a desk, this piece of hardware gets parked in a garage. Fiat will offer the system under the name "Blue&Me," a reference to the ability to link a mobile phone to the system using Bluetooth wireless technology.

Hitting the roads in fall 2007 is Ford Sync. Powered by Microsoft Auto, this in-vehicle solution enables drivers to easily stay connected to the people and digital entertainment that matter to them in a convenient environment.

Sync is the result of a partnership between Microsoft and Ford that is focused on extending the digital lifestyle and connected experiences to your car. Users will experience hands free communication and full support for all of the popular media devices and mobile phones on the market. Sync’s intelligent and updateable media interface connects the vehicle to the popular technology of today and tomorrow.