iPads handed out to American hospitals

Kaweah Delta Health Care in California is to hand out Apple iPads to their employees in an attempt to replace the traditional laptop.

With the Citrix technology implemented, known as Citrix XenApp, employees will be able to view ECG results, monitor patients and study x-ray images, also taking advantage of iPad's multi-touch capabilities and pinch-zoom technology.

With an increased battery life when compared to laptops, and a considerably easier and swifter power-on-and-off process, the iPad would appear a fine replacement for the conventional laptop.

Director of technical services at the health care institute, Nick Volosin, said "We’re giving users full access to a full virtual desktop. They can run anything we can run internally."

The institute is currently testing three iPads in different departments on a trial-basis, but it is hoped that this new technology will be implemented soon. Citrix, who are developing the application, will soon release Citrix XenApp 6, which will feature greater enhancements, advanced management capabilities and improved scalability.

It is not known if this technology will be implemented into hospitals in the UK as the iPad has recently suffered long delays in reaching European retailers, but is currently expected to become available on May 10^th of this year.