From food to finance, news to games, health, finance and more, mobile apps have only been around for a dozen years, but there are now millions to choose from. Here are some popular apps offered locally that can streamline your life with the touch of a fingertip.
Whole Foods Supermarket: This supermarket chain exclusively sells products free from hydrogenated fats and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Its app shows weekly deals just for Amazon Prime members, from organic produce to Animal Welfare Rated meat to grocery staples. Plus, Prime members get an extra 10% off hundreds of sale items.
Retired business owner Millie Sretenovic of suburban Cleveland is an app Prime member. “I always show my app whether there is a discount or not,” she says. “Many times I am surprised to know that I have saved money. I’m very sold on the Whole Foods app and others that make my life more convenient.”
Giant Eagle: This useful app helps you shop at Giant Eagle or Market District for all your grocery needs. Use it to find your favorite products, track your perks, shop and store gift cards, view weekly specials and schedule a curbside pickup or home delivery. Clip your eCoupons and add them to the Giant Eagle Advantage Card®. You can even use the app to order your favorite made-to-order foods at select GetGo locations.
Huntington Bank: Huntington’s The Hub and Heads Up apps provide real-time insights about spending and saving to help customers make more informed decisions about their money. The addition of Zelle on its mobile and online banking platforms enables customers to send person-to-person payments to friends and family.
“At Huntington, we’re continually exploring new and innovative ways to enhance our customer experience in line with our purpose to look out for people – and we’re proud to bring Zelle’s capabilities to our customers,” says Andy Harmening, Huntington’s Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Consumer and Business Banking. “Offering Zelle in our app provides our customers with another convenient payment management tool making it fast and easy to move money.”
Cleveland Clinic: MyChart and Health Records app users can view their personal health information, including test results, medications, immunizations, past and future appointments, physician notes and details about hospital admissions. When you need to find care, Cleveland Clinic Express Care® Online app brings a healthcare provider to you live through your phone for an on-demand visit right away or to schedule a virtual follow-up visit.
“When patients have direct access to their personal health information, they have the opportunity to live healthier lives,” says Amy Merlino, M.D., Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Medical Information Officer. “They are able to track important health factors, such as weight or cholesterol or blood sugar, to determine their own personal trends over time. They are able to easily see a combined view of their information from multiple health systems, as well as have the ability to share their healthcare history with other providers.”
University Hospitals: The UH Now app lets you find a doctor, find a location, log in to your UH Personal Health Record and schedule an appointment. The app lets you explore health topics that are important to you and your family so you can get health information delivered right to your fingertips – at the time and place you need it most.
Cleveland Metroparks: This trails app is useful for planning visits to any of 18 park reservations. Interactive GPS maps show where you are in the parks and detailed directions to get to trailheads, picnic areas, food, beaches and more. For other county parks or national parks, use AllTrails free app.
Margaret Briller is a freelance writer in Northeast Ohio. Her favorite apps include Sky Map, Waze and Shazam.
