iPods: Beyond Entertainment

The stethoscope is a timeless tool in the medical profession.

But according to a Time magazine article, today’s medical students are often less competent and comfortable with stethoscopes. Instead, they increasingly opt for expensive, high-tech tests to diagnose conditions that could be detected by careful listening through a stethoscope.

A Temple University doctor may have a solution. Time reports that Dr. Michael Barrett, in an American Journal of Medicine study, “concluded that medical students improved their stethoscope skills dramatically if they listened to certain digitally recorded soundtracks that mimic the distinctive vibrations produced by various valve problems and other cardiac conditions.”

Barrett created a recording of stethoscope sounds heard when a patient has an abnormal heart. Students downloaded the recording to an iPod and listened for two hours. The results were impressive: After listening to the iPod recording, students could correctly identify 80% of the sounds (up from 30% without the recording).

How does this relate to your organization? For iPods and other digital recording devices, think beyond entertainment. The gadgets have virtually unlimited business potential. Could key company meetings, seminars and training be delivered through podcasts or videocasts? If your sales team logs hours of road time every week, or if you have employees in multiple time zones, consider how downloadable audio and video could help overcome time and physical space.

The tools are there. Now it’s up to all of us to creatively apply them.