DH built an app for Doctors and they're actually using it!

[lifejoy]

My DH is a doctor and he taught himself how to build an app, which is on it's own VERY impressive and mustachian!!! He has a friend that is paying thousands of dollars to have a medical app built, but my DH is mustachian and he made an app with sweat, blood, and tears.

This is the app: DxLogic
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/dxlogic/id943680508?mt=8


Recently he received this email message:

"Hello Dr Lifejoy,

I just picked up the dxlogic app (and promptly bought the in-app purchase). I also love EBM, so I'm dropping you a line as instructed.  Very nice work, and thank you.

I'm an Emergency Physician in [A PLACE] and I've been working on a web-based platform that utilizes likelihood ratios with a friend of mine (as I have no computer skills) for some time.  I'm impressed with the work you've done. I hope that someday, such an application can be used to regularly treat and communicate with patients.  If it can, I see it not only standardizing care around best practices, I see it as a potential gold mine for further research and development. 

Best of luck with your fellowship and with the program."

WOW! I am so thrilled for him, and really pumped that he has made this happen. People are really, really using this app. It was recently tweeted about. It has been reviewed in multiple languages. I feel like this is mega mustachian badassity, and I just had to share! I'm so proud of him!!!*

*(And also of me, because during his hours and hours of work on this app I didn't bug him to hang out with me... a difficult skill, but one that I have! Haha!)

[HappierAtHome]

This is amazing! What a talented guy!

[lifejoy]

Wow -- that's really cool!

Is he going to keep it free? I would charge at least $.99 for it.  If it takes off maybe it can fund a BIG jewelry store for you....

It is free and he will probably keep it that way, but there is an option to upgrade the app's functionality for $1.

:D Yes.... We joke about how when this app gets really big, we will retire! But maybe I will suggest a jewellery store... As in, a store of jewellery locked away in my cabinet!! Bwahahaha! ;)

[lifejoy]

This is amazing! What a talented guy!

He is the most motivated person I have ever met, and the only person I know who does not procrastinate. He woke up one day and was like, hey, I want to make this app. I guess I will teach myself how. And he did!

[lifejoy]

That's impressive! I'm going to send this link to some doctor friends.

That would be great! Thank you! He's been getting a lot of shout outs from US docs lately. When you live in Canada, you know you've made it big when the US is paying attention to what you're doing!!

[lifejoy]

I guess I should attempt to explain what the app does: it tells you how good or bad  different tests are at diagnosing patients.

It's a tool that aids diagnosis.

[Mr FrugalNL]

Thanks for the link. I forwarded it to a doctor friend as well. I'll post here once I get a response.

[lifejoy]

Thanks for the link. I forwarded it to a doctor friend as well. I'll post here once I get a response.

Very cool, thanks!!

[JrDoctor]

Using boolean logic for diagnosing and interpreting tests is great, its something I wish I did more, especially on the rarer occasions I think about zebras.  Is there an android version?

[lifejoy]

Using boolean logic for diagnosing and interpreting tests is great, its something I wish I did more, especially on the rarer occasions I think about zebras.  Is there an android version?

It's coming! DH has been a little preoccupied with his Royal College exam ;) (it's like "the boards" in the US).

[AZDude]

Your DH might be ruining my side business!

Seriously, had some medical office on the hook for paying me to build a simple iPhone app, but then they called me right before the project started and cancelled. Said they found a similar app for $4.99 on the App store.

Seriously though... that is very cool.

[Mr FrugalNL]

Thanks for the link. I forwarded it to a doctor friend as well. I'll post here once I get a response.

Very cool, thanks!!

It turns out she doesn't have an iPhone either. Oh well. Better crack the whip on that Android version. =)

[Felicity]

That is so awesome!!!

I'm not a doctor, but I'll share with a friend who is. :) 

Love the idea expressed in the email - about using applications like this to communicate with patients (and I get excited just thinking about how to do so :D). Plus...in my experience, some medical professionals themselves don't have the strongest grasp on probability. My mom once got test results back that made her doctor suggest a hysterectomy. When she asked about further tests or a second opinion - huge push-back. Long story short (and incredibly vague), she didn't need a hysterectomy and the root cause was something completely different than the original doctor thought.

[lifejoy]

Your DH might be ruining my side business!

Seriously, had some medical office on the hook for paying me to build a simple iPhone app, but then they called me right before the project started and cancelled. Said they found a similar app for $4.99 on the App store.

Seriously though... that is very cool.

Oops!! Sorry! Haha but at least it wasn't my DH's app in this case :)

And judging by his friend, there will always be doctors that want to pay!

[Kitsune]

Huh, that sounds interesting! I sent the link to the NPs and MDs at my office (medical research clinic). Good stuff!

[lifejoy]

That is so awesome!!!

I'm not a doctor, but I'll share with a friend who is. :) 

Love the idea expressed in the email - about using applications like this to communicate with patients (and I get excited just thinking about how to do so :D). Plus...in my experience, some medical professionals themselves don't have the strongest grasp on probability. My mom once got test results back that made her doctor suggest a hysterectomy. When she asked about further tests or a second opinion - huge push-back. Long story short (and incredibly vague), she didn't need a hysterectomy and the root cause was something completely different than the original doctor thought.

Wow, great example of how tools like this can help!!

[lifejoy]

Huh, that sounds interesting! I sent the link to the NPs and MDs at my office (medical research clinic). Good stuff!

Thank you!! Talk about putting the "sharing" into "sharing the badassity"! My DH has spent $0 on marketing so this is a great grassroots support system :)

[PharmaStache]

Just a thought…the app sounds like something these guys would be interested in https://therapeuticseducation.org  (Canadian family doc/pharmacist duo that do podcasts and courses about evidence based medicine)

[NumberCruncher]

Nice!

It looks super polished for a first app, too. :)

Oh, if your DH (or anyone else in the medical field) has another idea down the line that would require funding, my company may be able to help. We have a Federally Funded Research and Development Center for healthcare, and quite a few dedicated app developers. Every year there are internal submissions for research proposals (starting around January), and unsurprisingly the projects that do well and get funding are almost always the ones with firm external support. :)  Anyone can message me for details.

[lifejoy]

Just a thought…the app sounds like something these guys would be interested in https://therapeuticseducation.org  (Canadian family doc/pharmacist duo that do podcasts and courses about evidence based medicine)

Wow, great suggestion! Thanks!!! I'm sure DH will just like to check it the site in general!

Nice!

It looks super polished for a first app, too. :)

Oh, if your DH (or anyone else in the medical field) has another idea down the line that would require funding, my company may be able to help. We have a Federally Funded Research and Development Center for healthcare, and quite a few dedicated app developers. Every year there are internal submissions for research proposals (starting around January), and unsurprisingly the projects that do well and get funding are almost always the ones with firm external support. :)  Anyone can message me for details.

Wow, that is high praise! It's going to make Dr. Lifejoy's day to hear that it looks polished in one person's opinion!!

Oooo that is hugely interesting. I will PM you for more details.

[AdiposeFinn]

Very cool. Can someone explain what the app is used for in layman's terms :)

[lifejoy]

Very cool. Can someone explain what the app is used for in layman's terms :)

Helps you make decisions while diagnosing patients. It uses likelihood ratios and peer-reviewed scholarly studies.

[MonkeyJenga]

Very cool. Can someone explain what the app is used for in layman's terms :)

Helps you make decisions while diagnosing patients. It uses likelihood ratios and peer-reviewed scholarly studies.

From a marketing perspective, I would nail this down. Develop the elevator speech for the app. Who needs it, what's the problem that exists today, how will this app do things differently to solve that problem, and how will it make life easier/better for its customers.

There should be no confusion after reading the app description about what it does and why it's needed.

Any free marketing avenues you can use? I would leverage people who give positive reviews and email you, at a minimum, and ensure people who email privately also leave a review. Happy consumers can advocate for you in wider forums - their hospital, alumni group, etc.

[B L I S S]

What did he use to teach himself to make an app? I'd love to do the same thing.

[lifejoy]

What did he use to teach himself to make an app? I'd love to do the same thing.

He says he googled things and used the tutorials from here: https://www.raywenderlich.com/tutorial-archive

I hope that helps a little!

[lifejoy]

Very cool. Can someone explain what the app is used for in layman's terms :)

Helps you make decisions while diagnosing patients. It uses likelihood ratios and peer-reviewed scholarly studies.

From a marketing perspective, I would nail this down. Develop the elevator speech for the app. Who needs it, what's the problem that exists today, how will this app do things differently to solve that problem, and how will it make life easier/better for its customers.

There should be no confusion after reading the app description about what it does and why it's needed.

Any free marketing avenues you can use? I would leverage people who give positive reviews and email you, at a minimum, and ensure people who email privately also leave a review. Happy consumers can advocate for you in wider forums - their hospital, alumni group, etc.

This is great advice; thank you!