The American Medical Association has named Hermosa physician Tracy Bercu one of 10 finalists in the 2011 AMA App Challenge for her idea for a computer application that would help determine the next treatment options if a patient’s antimicrobial regimen fails.
Bercu’s idea, the What’s Not Covered app, would help users determine what organisms are missed by a patient’s antimicrobial treatments. The app also would help doctors see the difference in coverage between two antibiotics.
“What’s Not Covered would quickly provide a list of bacteria that would be missed on any given regimen to help determine if this is the best antibiotic choice or if the patient needs broader antibiotic coverage,” Bercu said.
Earlier this year, U.S. physicians, residents and medical students submitted app ideas and 10 were selected as finalists. AMA members will vote for one idea in the physician category and one idea in the resident/fellow/medical student category, and one winner will be selected from each category.
The winners will each receive $2,500 in cash and prizes and a trip for two to New Orleans for the unveiling of their winning idea at the AMA’s semi-annual policymaking meeting in November.
