Must Have Apps (General)
You’ve got a new PDA, read the manual, charged it up. You’ve got used to the controls, buttons and learnt how to use the built-in applications like calendar, addressbook and now you are raring to fill it up with Medical Applications.
Here’s a list to help you along
PDA Applications useful in General Medical Practice
Contact Management
The built-in PIM (Personal Information Management) apps in your PDA are not really powerful enough for good contact management which I think is useful for doctors as it would help us in our patient encounters and daily schedule.
Agendus - best PIM replacement for PalmOS
Pocket Informant – good PIM replacement for WM
Database Management
You may need to keep databases or lists and what better way to carry them round with you. I have tried several database applications for PalmOS in the past and my current favorite and one with quite a few medical “templates’ available is:
HanDbase
Calculators
You need one to perform calculations which would be beyond the built-in calculators you have in our PDA e.g. BSA, Cardiac output…
Medcalc – the best very comprehensive medical calculator for PalmOS
Archimedes – free calculator for PalmOS and WM
Medical References
Investing in iSilo as an ebook reader is a good idea as there are many medical references in that format. iSilo runs on Palm and WM
Carl Weber’s Clinical Medicine Series – iSilo books for Palm and WM
Meistermed iSilo Depot – good collection of free and shareware medical references
5 Minute Clinical Consult – that venerable pocket reference is available in PDA format from Skyscape and Unbound Medicine
UpToDate – available for PPC and PalmOS (selected models). You could also access this online from their mobile version
Mobile Merck Medicus – free for US Health Professionals
Sanford Guide – this excellent antimicrobial guide is also available for PDAs
Drug References
No PDA would be complete without a good drug reference. Here are my picks –
Epocrates – free drug reference for Palm and PPC; free updates on syncing and bonus multi-drug interation checking. A “Pro” version has more features but the basic free version is very good. Does take up a bit of Ram though.
Lexidrugs – comprehensive suite of drug references for Palm and PPC. Unrivalled in detail.
DrDrugs – another popular drug reference. Available from Skyscape, wireless updates available
Tarascon Pharmacopoeia – a leading drug reference from USBMIS, also available for Palm and PPC.
Miscellaneous
StatCoder Applications – great suite of Coding solutions in your Palm. There are also free apps for Cholesterol, Hypertension, Growth Charts and lots more.
Patient Keeper – a popular Patient Tracking software for Palm and PPC
MD On Tap – free application that retrieves MEDLINE citations directly from the PDA through a wireless connection to the Internet. PPC version also available.
** work in progress – suggestions in this discussion forum or post a comment here. Last updated August 27 2007 **
