Dr. iPhone will see you now

Thanks to a new breed of apps, smartphones are beginning to help real-life doctors, clinicians and other care-givers -- even patients themselves -- better manage chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and even depression. For the 133 million Americans with chronic conditions, these apps keep a constant eye, watching for changes that could signal trouble's brewing. That could help doctors and patients tackle problems in the moment, while they're small -- hopefully reducing the need for urgent care or hospitalization later. So the patients are healthier. And their wallets are too. And if they can help lessen their need for care at medical facilities, then these apps could turn out to be a critical lifeline for the USA healthcare system, which is on the brink of being overrun by aging Baby Boomers, the first of whom turn 70 in 2015.