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'Medical Memory': Valley doctor creates app to keep families informed

Posted at 8:21 AM, Mar 26, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-26 19:30:23-04

PHOENIX — Dr. Randall Porter is a neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute and he created an app called "Medical Memory."

"The idea came from my own experience...my father had cancer," Dr. Porter said. When he would ask his dad details about his doctor appointments, he could only remember a fraction of what he had been told.

Instead, Medical Memory gives providers a way to record doctor-patient visits that can then be shared with family and friends.

Currently, concerns over the coronavirus have hospitals banning visitors.

"I did a brain surgery yesterday on a lady with a blood clot in her head. She's 60 years old and they...still wouldn't let her husband come in be at the bedside or be with her in the ICU, so they're being extremely restrictive."

That's when Dr. Porter saw an opportunity to use his app in a new way.

"Nurses and the doctor are going to leave a one-way update video message for the family and this will hopefully improve and bridge that communication gap that we're experiencing given the limitation of visitors."

Dr. Porter says the app will be free for the next few weeks. Learn more here.