Here’s what’s going on with the EP Studios apps:
EP Calipers
Most of the new stuff is in EP Calipers. Probably the most useful new feature is available on the Mac and Windows versions: a transparent floating caliper window. Use it to overlay calipers over any open window on the desktop. Check figures of journal articles. Use it during slide shows. Use it on webpages or on your EHR. No longer are you limited to just image files you have downloaded onto your computer. Unfortunately due to the nature of mobile device platforms, there is no way to implement similar functionality on a phone or tablet (that I know of).
Several users suggested the capability to color each caliper differently. This is now implemented. Others wanted a way to fine tune caliper position besides just dragging with your finger or trackpad/mouse. This is also implemented, via keyboard arrow keys or buttons that “micromove” or “tweak” caliper positioning.
Finally, in case you missed it, angle calipers are available. They can be useful in Brugada syndrome, in which the so-called beta angle may have predictive value. In addition, the work of Dr. Adrian Baranchuk from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario indicates that there is prognostic value to measuring the base of the triangle formed by the angle 5 mm inferior to the beta angle triangle’s apex. EP Calipers now supports this. Provided amplitude has been calibrated in mm, the triangle base is automatically drawn showing this measurement. This technique has been dubbed by Dr. Baranchuk as a “Brugadometer.” More information on these Brugada Syndrome ECG measurements can be found here.
EP Coding
EP Coding also received a major update earlier this year. After a few years of relative stasis, the AMA decided to shake up the coding of EP procedures once again by unbundling the sedation component from the procedure codes. The result is a relatively complex coding system for sedation, depending on factors of patient age, who does the sedation, and the sedation duration. EP Coding now allows you to calculate the sedation codes automatically using a sedation coding calculator.
EP Mobile
EP Mobile has been relatively static. It is already chock full of calculators, drug information, risk scores, pictures of ECGs, etc. It is our best selling app, so we must be doing something right. I am always happy to add features; just email me at mannd@epstudiossoftware.com with your requests.
Final thoughts
This is a bit off-topic, but probably not worth a separate blog post either. My old Motorola Droid Maxx Android phone is getting a bit long in the tooth, and way past upgrade time. I was an early adapter of Android, and though I use other Apple products (a Macbook Pro and an iPad Mini 2), I have never owned an iPhone. This may change. In many ways I think Android is a more innovative operating system than Apple’s iOS. Nevertheless we live in an insecure world, and I can’t get timely updates to Android via my phone and Verizon. My phone is stuck on Android 4.4.4 (I even forget what candy that is), whereas the most recent Android version is Android 7 Nougat. Apple doesn’t have this problem. Having an outdated, obsolete OS in the current world of bad guy hackers is untenable. I think the problem is (as usual) with the providers, who could care less about updating an older phone when they could be pushing the latest phones on customers. The 2 year cycle of upgrading phones is ridiculously wasteful. But that’s what is driving the industry, with the carriers all too eager to get you in and sign another rip-off contract. So, it might be goodbye to Android soon.
