Medical Application Critical Appraisal
Maria P. Pahountis
Department of Nursing, Chamberlain University
NR-599-NP Nursing Informatics
Dr. Cope
April
... [Show More] 9th, 2021
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Name
Medscape
Author
Peter Frishauf led the founders' team that created Medscape in 1995 (Medscape, n.d.).
Medscape Education within the WebMD network developed and maintains this app since 2001
(Medscape, n.d.)
Endorsement
Medscape has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the FDA, and they collaborate
with each other. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) defines the framework in which
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will provide publicly available content to be used in
health professional informational, educational, and training programs that will be run by WebMD
and Medscape (FDA, 2017).
Medscape is accredited through Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
(ACCME), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Accreditation Council for
Pharmacy Education (ACPE) providing continuing education for physicians, nurses, and
pharmacists (Medscape, n.d.)
Operation
The app is suitable on a mobile device or computer, but the mobile app is very easy to utilize. It
is used by over 3 million people and in past years has been the #1 downloaded app on the iTunes
App Store (Medscape, n.d.). The app is best used on a mobile device because the app is more
organized and easier to navigate. In addition, smartphones are carried around by most providers,
so it becomes the most convenient and easiest way to access health information. It is easy to use,
and instructions are not needed.
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Aesthetics
The app has a well-organized home page that allows for easy usage. Before using the app, you
must register which is a simple process. The app can be tailored to you after you select your
specialty and profession, highlighting in the news section or homepage relevant news or articles
(Medscape, n.d.).
Purpose
Medscape’s mission is to improve patient care with comprehensive clinical information and
resources essential to physicians and healthcare professionals (Medscape, n.d.). Medscape is the
leading online global destination for physicians and healthcare professionals, offering the latest
medical news and expert perspectives; essential point-of-care drug and disease information; and
relevant professional education and CME (Medscape, n.d.).
Clinical Decision Making
The app is a tool for providers and healthcare professionals to access relevant and evidencebased information but should not replace critical thinking.
Safety
If the app is used in place of critical thinking and clinical experience than there is a potential for
patient harm. The app should be used solely as an educational tool and reference, not to diagnose
in your place. The app can help improve safety by reduce medication errors and interactions.
Privacy/Security
Does the app have privacy statement or setting? Medscape has a privacy statement. It can be
accessed through their app or online and is called the Medscape Network Privacy Policy
(Medscape, n.d.). They state that although they aim to protect all user information, nothing
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online is 100% secure and each user is responsible for their own private information (Medscape,
n.d.).
Their policy states that information may be shared with third parties including service providers,
advertising and sponsored programs, and market research (Medscape, n.d.).
Medscape states that throughout their website social media widgets may be used to share
information and browsing data may be shared (Medscape, n.d.). Users are notified of
protentional information through push notifications, e-mail and via the website (Medscape, n.d.).
User
Medscape is intended for physicians, medical providers, and pharmacists.
Distribution
Medscape is available worldwide distributing up to date, evidence-based information to
providers.
Credibility
Medscape is very credible. The Medscape Reference articles are updated by means of several
complementary processes, all of which leverage the skill and practical knowledge of over 7500
top physicians and pharmacists from around the world (Medscape, n.d.). Medscape’s Literature
Survey Process systematically reviews the major medical and pharmacy journals, FDA
announcements, and important practice guidelines for practice-changing information that is
continuously added to their databases (Medscape, n.d.). [Show Less]