Sometimes a clinician just wants a way to keep secure, HIPAA compliant notes on their iPad without having to purchase an entire EMR system to install. Hoping to fill that niche is Insight Notes, an app to keep simple secure notes on the iPad, with an optional backup and export service. The app itself is $9.99 on the app store, but there is no way to export, print, or share the notes with others unless you pay the $14.99/month service fee that comes with off-site, secure backup, severely limiting the use of the app on its own.
In its basic functionality the software works as advertised. The whole app is password protected, with the option of delaying logout for 5 minutes in case your workflow has you exiting the app frequently. Each patient gets a folder and notes are sorted by date within the patient. There are 4 types of notes: text, free draw, a progress note template, and a scan function that will take a picture using the iPad’s camera. When a note is marked as complete there is no more editing, and the note is placed on a letterhead template with a signature on the bottom. Free draw only has one color, and an erase function. Of note, there is no way to draw on a text note or scanned note, or type on a free draw note.
As mentioned, the only way to print, email, or otherwise share the note is by using the paid backup service (first 30 days free!). Alternatively, it is possible to take a screen shot of the note and share that using the iPad’s normal picture sharing abilities, but that seems like cheating and only works one page at a time.
Overall, this app is targeted at those who do most if not all of their note taking on the iPad itself, i.e. direct care providers, students, and those who don’t have to deal with an EMR, but do need their notes to be secure. Compared to the other “secure” options for these populations this seems like a cheap, if limited alternative, otherwise the lack of export options without the monthly fee seems to limit the applicability of Insight Notes to others.
Website: Insight Notes…