On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at 10:00AM PST, Apple released the iPad Mini.

On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at approximately 10:05AM PST, physicians, nurses, and other caregivers began asking IT when the iPad Mini would be supported by the organization.

Below are three things to consider regarding the iPad Mini’s immediate impact on healthcare:

1. Ease of use. The iPad Mini has the same intuitive user interface and application standards that the iPad and iPhone feature. Users will have no problem picking up the device and using it with little-to-no training. Standardized products and ubiquitous experiences have their advantages.

2. No form factor. The iPad Mini is a dream device for physicians and nurses who are looking for a lightweight, mobile platform that can fit in their lab coat pocket. It’s big enough to enable both reading and writing information in an EHR, yet small enough to easily carry around throughout a shift. When it comes to the deployment of the iPad Mini, the real question will be, how quickly EHR vendors can optimize their applications for the iPad Mini’s new form factor? Epic’s Cantu and Cerner’s PowerChartTouch were both designed for a regular sized iPad. Not all features and functions that have been built into their iPad app will be suitable for a smaller screen size, so expect customization to occur.

3. Enterprise readiness. Right out of the gate, the iPad Mini runs Apple’s iOS, which is accepted by almost all IT organizations in one fashion or another. With the plethora of mobile device management solutions (such as Voalte Connect, powered by Airwatch), the iPad Mini will have no problem receiving the go-ahead from IT in terms of enterprise readiness. (This, of course, is a 180-degree change from the launch of the iPhone in 2008!)

Wondering how the iPad Mini will play into your organization’s mobility strategy? Feel free to give us a call here at Voalte and we will be happy to help guide the way.