The new iPad app CardioTeach has been touted as industry's first at helping doctors communicate heart disease and treatment options to patients.

Boston Scientific unveiled the industry's first iPad app designed to help doctors educate patients about heart disease and treatments. This program, CardioTeach, allows doctors and patients to access information about heart conditions and treatments in an interactive way, joining other programs in Boston Scientific's growing app portfolio.

“Most medical device apps are designed to educate physicians on a specific product or therapy," Dr. Leslie Saxon, chief of cardiovascular medicine at University of Southern California, said inprepared remarks. "CardioTeach is unique because it lets clinicians better educate patients about their overall heart and vascular health and available treatment options."

The language is catered to the lay user and the information is structured around questions a patient is likely to have about coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart rhythm disorders and other heart diseases.

The best part may be that the application allows the user to log typed notes for each section, draw on the diagrams and send the complete information via email.

"A recent study shows that one in five physicians use a tablet computer in their practice," cardiac rhythm management chief medical officer Dr. Kenneth Stein said in a press release. "Creating an app that enables health care professionals to use this technology to enhance communication with patients and caregivers is a logical extension of our efforts to empower patients with information about Boston Scientific's therapies.