Apps you can't live without

[xyeta]

Can we get a list of Medical Community PDA users' favorite apps? No limit.... tell us what you use, how and why.....

[crh3f]

BDicty medical dictionary...I'm about to finish up my 2nd year, and man has it come in handy!

Medical Abbreviations (iSilo)

Medical Lab Tests (iSilo)

Eponyms

[Michael Quach]

Eponyms is an awesome... and free....
Epocrates, of course
MedCalc

Just the ones off the top of my head....

[susanfnp]

ePocrates

Shots 2003

STAT Growth Charts

Clinical Medicine Consult (iSilo)

SynCalc (not specifically a medical calculator but it's programmable and I've written a few shortcuts for calculating BMI and peds dosages)

[tanker_bob]

ePocrates 6.0 Pro (includes alternate meds, tables, MedMath, and ID)
Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary (from Skyscape)
Eponyms (free)
MedCalc (free)
Beiks Medical Abbreviations (database free, not the full viewer)

[crh3f]

I'm going to add Tarascon Pharmacopeia....

I'm about to start my Peds rotation in July, so I'm sure that Shots 2003 will be another one I use daily.

[RNclie]

I dumped Epocrates for Davis's Drug Guide because of the Y-Site compatabilities which I use every day in ICU.
Drips.
BDicty.
Eponyms.
Decoder.
Isilo.

[StPhun]

From a surgeons POV:

my NX70V video/still camera (w/ AcidImage)!
iSilo
Epocrates
John Hopkins ABX Guide
Eponyms
ICU Math
MedRules
MedCalc
MedMath
Parens
ABG-Pro

[jthompson]

Emerg doc:
--------------
Lexidrugs
PEPID
MedCalc
iSilo
5MCC
5mPeds
PregPro
WordSmith
Medical Clinical Consult
eMedicine
Sandford Guide
Stedmans

[Riverweb]

I use:

Dorland's
ABCLabData (Skyscape's most AWESOME program!)
MedScut's Medical Abbreviations (iSilo)
MedCalc
DiddleBug
LexiDrugs
ePocrates
Tarascon BETA

I have others, but the above get the most use.

[xyeta]

I notice many ePocrates users. Is that the best drug guide? I checked palmgear and it's free (?!?!) Do you all use it b/c it's free or is it worthy content? I have tried the PDR from Skyscape, and find it pretty easy to navagate.

BTW: I notice an absence of Skyscape software....why so?

Thx.

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by xyeta
I notice many ePocrates users. Is that the best drug guide? I checked palmgear and it's free (?!?!) Do you all use it b/c it's free or is it worthy content? I have tried the PDR from Skyscape, and find it pretty easy to navagate.

BTW: I notice an absence of Skyscape software....why so?

Thx.
I like ePocrates because it is updated with new meds frequently, usually weekly. The standard version is free, but the Pro version that includes alternate meds, tables, MedMath, and an infections disease treatment database. The major thing missing from ePocrates is overdose information. Other than that, the content is excellent.

Skyscape has great stuff, but it's expensive. They have no separate update price. They either haven't bridged the business model gap from print to electronic media, or they're just greedy. I bought Dorland's through them, but the next week I found it for almost half their price elsewhere. I'll look long and hard before I make that mistake again.

[knowledge]

Skyscape's:
5mcc 2003 (it has alot of info applicable to all fields)
Stedman's (the most complete dictionary available)
Mosby's Rx
Mosby's Ix
5mID
Washington Manual
Washington Manual of Surgery
MedCalc
iSilo (too many books to name)

[jthompson]

I like Skyscape's products and tend to shop there first. Consistent interface, easy to navigate, committment to customer service and quality content ever since they were K2.

[Michael Quach]

You have to be careful with Epocrates... some of the pediatric dosing is wrong. I've had a couple of pharmacists complain already.

[hellen]

A Clinical Pharmacist's opinion
ePocrates
Lexi Drugs (all 11 databases)
ABx Guide
AbPK
MedCalc
Dorlands Medical Dictionary

[Unregistered]

The Clinical Medicine Consult it's listed in Medical category on www.PDAGreen.com http://www.pdagreen.com/software_browse.asp?catid=24

[tracker1]

Knowledge,

When the time permit, kindly name some of your favorite books or source for the books you were using.

Thanks in advance,
John

[A_Barton]

All the programs listed previously are good, and one other is mobileMicromedex. It's free to download if the hospital you're affiliated with has a Micromedex subscription. The nice thing about it is you can download up to 5 databases depending on what you want (and the space you have on your PDA). They have a great drug database, an alternative medicine database, toxicology, and acute care. They also have a really good drug interaction tool. mobileMicromedex is updated on a regular basis and there's no advertising or sposorships from drug companies. Check out this web site for more info: www.micromedex.com/mobilemicromedex.

Unfortunately, I've also heard from several pharmacists that they've found some incorrect dosing information in epocrates.

[joyous247]

I'm a resident in Family Medicine, & these are my favorite & most-used applications:

5MCC 2003
OB Suite
Shots 2003
Kidometer 4.2
ePocrates
MedCalc
Sanford Guide
iSilo (to read all sorts of free docs available on various topics)

I learn a lot about new apps & references through the following website:

http://pbrain.hypermart.net/

[xyeta]

Originally posted by A_Barton

Unfortunately, I've also heard from several pharmacists that they've found some incorrect dosing information in epocrates.

This is troubling....

Any others with similar experience (re: ePoc or others)?

[xyeta]

Anyone use their PDA for coding? I have been looking at Mobile Design Technologies for Pt. tracking, E&M, ICD-9, CPT.....

Any advice here?

[Al W]

ePocrates Pro.
As an oncologist, ChemoRx is great (and free). ChemoRx Plus is better, but doesn't work on OS5 yet. (it will soon). I have both on my Clie 615, and just ChemoRx on my TG50. Use them every day.

[Unregistered]

To all the pharmacist out there,

What programs do you trust? seeing how some of them out there have wrong dosing info, and so all.

tony

[tmangh]

patient keeper 2.3 (not 3.x)
tarascon (excellent)
mobile micromedex (very large files)
sanford manual (excellent)
abg pro (+/-)
archimedes (+/-)
timi calculator (+/-)
shots 2003
marik's ddx (isilo, +/-)
nejm for pda (or acrobat reader for palm os if cannot do w/o pics/graphs in articles)
zoonotic dz (isilo)
lytemeister (isilo)
medcalc (excellent)
medrules (excellent)
eponyms (+/-)

internal medicine/er
sj30+64mb

[hellen]

The info about ePocrates is true. There are incorrect doses, some indications are missing, prices are wrong or not there at all, plus manufacturer info missing too. I really prefer Lexi-Drugs, because it's more accurate, even though it's not concise like ePocrates

[rosemarijnjaspe]

I have the best dutch site for you WWW.UM2C.NL you have to registate but its free! you can get 5mcc, 5mpc, 5mec all for free regitrate at "nieuwe gebruiker"

[manueldiaz]

ISilo and iSilox (I have made iSilo files from on-line medical resources, works great)
Sanford Guide
Cancer Treatment Summaries (From cancernet, available free at PalmGear)
TNM from the UICC
ePocrates of course
Prostogram (postop and survival predictor based on Partin tables, urologists MUST have it)

[Shepherd]

I did this work from your posts for my wife who is a family doc, I figure I am not married to you all but you might also benefit from having the links to the software you were mentioning.

You could even spread the joy and refer your friends to this thread or email them the contents of this post.

Enjoy.
- Shepherd
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Must have medical software from ClieSource Forum
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bdicity Medical Dictionary
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=7393

Eponyms
http://eponyms.net/eponyms.htm

Medcalc
http://medcalc.med-ia.net/desc.html

Dorlan's Medical Dictionary
http://www.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=247

Beiks Medical Abbreviations
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=39176

Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses
http://www.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=219

John Hopkins ABX Guide
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/2001/MAY/010502.htm

ICU Math
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/icumath.shtml

MedRules
http://pbrain.hypermart.net/medrules.html

MedMath
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=4991

ABG Pro
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=5522

PEPID Medical Software Suite
http://www.pepid.com/

5 Minute Clinical Consult
http://secure.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=484

5 Minute Pedeatric Consult
http://www.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=496

PregPro
http://www.medicaltoolbox.com/products/PregCalcPro/index.html

The Clinical Medical Consult
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=13924

eMedicine Reference Library
http://secure.emedicine.com/item.wws?sku=PDALIBRARY

Sanford
http://www.sanfordguide.com/

Stedmans
http://www.pdagreen.com/software_detail.asp?id=6972

ABC LabData
http://secure.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=447

LexiDrugs
http://store.lexi.com/lexistore/marketing/prodinfo/palmos/platinum/index.jsp

Tarascon Pharmacopia
http://www.tarasconpublishing.com/store/palm.asp

Mosby's Rx and Ix
http://www.collectivemed.com/jump/mosby.shtml

Washington Manual
http://www.collectivemed.com/jump/washm.shtml

MicroMedEx
http://www.micromedex.com/products/mobilemicromedex/

Patient Keeper
http://www.patientkeeper.com/products_personal.html

[Unregistered]

let me add medical wizards pedisuite (and the related er suite) to the list

www.medicalwizards.com

as a pediatrician, I find their software invaluable. it saves me at least 30 minutes a day in calculating drug dosages. the pedicode module is great for training residents during mock codes as well. All in all, a great program

Adam

[tts52]

I believe that legibility is an issue so I use my NX to Print to an IR printer. I compose the orders in Memo using alot of grafitti shortcuts (this was easier on my NR when I could still use my keyboard for shortcuts) copy to Word To Go and print with Print Boy. The problem is that if it is legible you have to spell correctly.

[ejdeleon]

Family Practice Doc:

Skyscape:
5m Cardiac Consult
5m Clinical Consult
5m Emergency
5m ID
5m Ortho
5m Peds
5m Sports
FerriGuide IM
Washington Manual
PocketSurg
Harrient Lane

Drug programs:
ePocrates Rx (free version) - primary
Tarascon pharmacopoeia - back up for OTC and a lot of derm drugs not in epocrates
Sanford Guide 2003

Other references:
Kidometer
Shots 2003
Inforetriever 2003 (Evidence Based Medicine tool)

Tools:
MedCalc
MentSTAT
Pregwheel
Inforetriever (for clinical practice guidelines/probabilities)

Coding:
Codemeister 2003 (using Isilo 3.3)

I have a lot more skyscape products and other medical software - but these are my "essentials".

Can't live without my NX-70...

[Unregistered]

With all of these applications, how do you get them to fit on your Clie? I've got the NX70, but since there are only 11mb available on the handheld, I run out of space pretty quickly. I've tried moving stuff my 128mb MS, but then lots of apps just crash...

any tips?

[jthompson]

Read the manual/visit the home website for each app to learn how to exploit the expansion card for them.

[Michael Quach]

Also, get the CF memory card driver, and then PowerRun. Should give you more memory than you need to store medical apps.

[crzygrl]

Originally posted by RNclie
I dumped Epocrates for Davis's Drug Guide because of the Y-Site compatabilities which I use every day in ICU. 


I have been looking for a program dealing with IV med compatabilities for use in the ICU also.  Has anyone run into anything other than Davis's?

[harborseal]

Well, I just got my first PDA, primarily for drug interaction and other point of care issues. I came here to ask what you thought was the best stuff to get. Nice to have it all laid out so well! Special thanks for all the web sites. If there's any others please do include web addresses and perhaps price range.
Do you think Tarascon has fewer errors or just fewer users to catch errors? I noticed no one mentioned the Harriet Lane PDA edition. Is it too expensive or why?
I'm probably coming at this from the other end of things having practiced over 20 years and just not being able to remember every drug interaction any more. When my proffessors trained there were only 3 antibiotics and the whole PDR (If it existed) would fit in under 15 pages. And the pace of change is only accellerating... Best of luck to you who are just starting out!

[harborseal]

By the way, any recommendations for inexpensive sources for some of these? Thanks!

[Michael Quach]

The older version of the Harriet Lane was just too cumbersome to use. The newest version, I hear, is much more user friendly. And considering how many mistakes there are in the Epocrates for pediatric dosing, i suspect I'll be purchasing the Harriet sometime soon.

[jthompson]

At Dalhousie University medical school we maintain an online document showing our academic committee's recommendations for medical Palm OS software:
http://www.medicine.dal.ca/palm/

[RayCon]

Originally posted by Michael Quach
Also, get the CF memory card driver, and then PowerRun. Should give you more memory than you need to store medical apps.

I'm a gerontological nurse practitioner.

I purchased the CF driver. Why do you need PowerRun Everything shows up just fine for me in my third party launcher (MegaLauncher). The only problem I've noticed is that, when the CF card is mounted, my Voice Recorder files don't show up. (Also have a MS installed as well).

BTW, I use:

ePocrates Pro
ABCLabData
Pocket Medicine/Internal Medicine
Merck Manual of Geriatrics
Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Washington Manual

[Michael Quach]

I'm not too familiar with Megalauncher... I use Zlauncher myself. When I transfer programs from RAM to CF card using Zlauncher or the native Palm launcher, it transfers the program only, and leaves the database on RAM. PowerRun transfers both. I'm not sure what Megalauncher does.

[Michael Quach]

I'm not too familiar with Megalauncher... I use Zlauncher myself. When I transfer programs from RAM to CF card using Zlauncher or the native Palm launcher, it transfers the program only, and leaves the database on RAM. PowerRun transfers both. I'm not sure what Megalauncher does.

[RayCon]

Originally posted by Michael Quach
I'm not too familiar with Megalauncher... I use Zlauncher myself. When I transfer programs from RAM to CF card using Zlauncher or the native Palm launcher, it transfers the program only, and leaves the database on RAM. PowerRun transfers both. I'm not sure what Megalauncher does.

You're not telling me you can run ePocrates from a CF card, are you? I know that, at least according to the ePocrates web site, all must be kept in RAM.

As for my SkyScape apps, such as ABCLabData, Washington Manual, etc, they suggest you keep the databases on external media, but the apps themselves need to stay in RAM to function. I guess, it's because the databases are read-only. Of course, they do allow for personal notes, and these are kept in RAM along with the app.

It would be very nice if I could keep more on external media, such as these SkyScape apps. Perhaps I'll try it, or has someone else already experimented?

Oh, BTW, Megalauncher will also assist in transfer of files to a MS or CF card. It's simply a matter of tap--and-hold.

[RayCon]

I thought I would mention one other application I now find indispensible. It JackFlash. With it, I can store those SkyScape apps in ROM. After moving all of these apps to internal ROM, everything continues to work as before -- flawlessly. This app is wonderful, in that it provides an additional 4MB+ of usable storage on my NX70V. And, if everything goes down and I need to do a hard reset, I don't need to reinstall those apps, as ROM storage is protected from such things.

[harborseal]

Catching up here, I'm not very impressed with Harriet. I looked up blunt abdominal trauma and got 2 laundry lists. the first was a list of what could be damaged - it looks like a 3rd grade homework assignment - a list of everything in the belly. The second is a list of tests that may or may not need to be done. From CBC to CT. Nothing about indications for tests or admission - in short, nothing useful. If other topics are as lame I'd say forget it. The Washington Manual and Ferris guide look good. I'll check that web site. Thanks.

[Michael Quach]

Epocrates won't run from external memory. That is, you can move it there, but it won't update when you hotsync. It won't work from JackFlash, either... as far as I can tell. There is a program (Advantage) out there that allows you to store Epocrates in external memory, and temporarily moves it to RAM when you hotsync. The caveat being that you need to keep about 2K RAM open when you hotsync.

Yes, you can move the Skyscape databases to external memory and the programs to JackFlash. I personally prefer using PowerRun to move the programs to CF card (simply because I have a 1GB CF card). I then keep my Flash memory for other applications that I need fast access to.

There are still some medical programs that will not let you transfer the databases to external memory (examples MedCalc, Kidometer, and other non-Skyscape programs). PowerRun might come in handy for these.

[Michael Quach]

Originally posted by harborseal
Catching up here, I'm not very impressed with Harriet. I looked up blunt abdominal trauma and got 2 laundry lists. the first was a list of what could be damaged - it looks like a 3rd grade homework assignment - a list of everything in the belly. The second is a list of tests that may or may not need to be done. From CBC to CT. Nothing about indications for tests or admission - in short, nothing useful. If other topics are as lame I'd say forget it. The Washington Manual and Ferris guide look good. I'll check that web site. Thanks.

I think that's a weakness in the text, itself, and not the Palm version. Still, my opinion on the Palm Harriet is up in the air.

[Michael Quach]

Originally posted by RayCon


It would be very nice if I could keep more on external media, such as these SkyScape apps. Perhaps I'll try it, or has someone else already experimented?



Oh, you can use PowerRun to store the actual apps on external media, btw.

[xyeta]

bump

[jaydoc05]

I have Isilo viewer. Could someone tell me were you get the various databases that it reads? (Eponyms /Medical Abbreviations)

Are they free???

Thanks,
Jason

[tanker_bob]

There is an entire site dedicated to iSilo at http://turcic.com/palm.shtml . You may find point-outs there. Also, there are a host of documents listed on http://memoware.com/ . There is a medical category to browse, or you can search for titles.

[xyeta]

Originally posted by tanker_bob
There is an entire site dedicated to iSilo at http://turcic.com/palm.shtml . You may find point-outs there. Also, there are a host of documents listed on http://memoware.com/ . There is a medical category to browse, or you can search for titles.


And don't forget clipping websites (great for downloading and saving journal articles)

iSilo is GREAT! I couldn't live w/o it! Good purchase, jaydoc5!

Also, many medical textbooks are readf w/ iSilo (here are a few I carry: Cecil Textbook of Medicine, Clinical ENT, Clinical Medicine Consult, Common Simple Emergencies, Emergency Medicine Guide Map, Allergy and Immunology, Anesthesia Guide, Bailey Surgical Textbook).... like I said, iSilo is GREAT!

[GoCats]

There are alot of good iSilo documents, many of them free, at http://www.meistermed.com . Look on the homepage for the iSilo Depot link. The various "Meister" programs are also pretty good. Good luck.

[pedsmd]

I have to agree with gocats and tankerbob. Isilo ROCKS!:D

[cswain12000]

As a neonatal ICU nurse, I find that I cannot live with out Neofax-the version that you get from neofax.com, not the one through skyscape--actually I don't even know if you can get it through skyscape anymore. Also use infusicalc alot for calculating drips and double checking pharmacy drip calculations.

[dorianne]

The 2 I cannot live without are PDR and Tabers from Skyscape.

I also have:
Pepid RN
Riley Kidometer
Shots 2003
Griffith's 5 Minute Clinical Consult
Griffith's 5 Minute Pediatric Consult
Davis Nursing Drug Guide
RN Fast Facts
RN Assess

[tstretch]

Your Meister links were excellent and yes Isilo is excellent, I just purchased the new version 4 it runs very well.

[stefe]

I came across this article from the BMJ, where there was a list of medical resources.

Most I already knew, but some came as a surprise. Like Repligo!

This is the site
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/handhelds/

then goto the
See what resources others have suggested

[Marc]

As a nurse I use:

-Epocrates
-Isilo and a bunch of docs out there, too many to mention but try www.memoware.com
-Stedman's dictionary
-Shots 2003
-iSilox to capture web pages

[Unregistered]

Dorland's Dictionary (I use this as much as epocrates)
epocrates
medscut's medical abbreviations
medcalc
5 Minute Clinical Consult
ABCLabData
Diddlebug
eponyms
A2Zdrugs
MosbyRX

I really like Tarascon, but I'm too poor to pay for it. ;-)



-MS4 student