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The Doctor Is In -- Your Phone

Philadelphia (CBS) - Mobile devices and electronic medical records are having an impact on the health care system already and if you have a physician's office on the cutting edge, you may be getting your medical labs, appointments and even advice on your mobile device.

Don't think that it is all based on income either. A study of patients who use text on their mobile devices has found that 79% of Medicaid recipients text regularly, the highest of any group. The group using it the least are Medicare recipients at forty three percent.

Why is this important? Because it is a new and exciting way to reach out to people with health information.

The other surprising fact is that more men use cellphones and text regularly than women. This is an important new phenomenon because men often avoid the health care system and see their doctors far less frequently than women.

Using this technology is an exciting way to reach out to them. Remember the key is education.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor

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