PDA/Palm Usage

[drthrockmorton]

Just wondering how many people use Palm or Pocket PC programs in your patient care? If so, what programs do you use?

I occasionally use ePocrates and Medical Eponyms. Both are free! But rarely do I have the time to use it unless the pt. OD'd on a medication I'm unfamiliar with.

Cheers.

[doclee04]

I use a palm, but found that epocraetes was a bit clunky. I will have to check my old PC for some links I found & my boss showed me.

[bubbamedic]

I froze mine by accident and it don't work anymore. To expensive to replace.

[wvditchdoc]

I have used them once or twice. Tried real hard to stay away from them and not get dependant on them. Because the one time you forgot it, dropped or it just didn't work, you'd be screwed.

As for OD's, call Poison Control, tell them what you have, the color of the pill, shape, and any marking that may be on the pill, and I guarantee they will have it narrowed down before you can even get into your PDA program. It is their job and they are good at it. Give them a chance, I have used them several times and they have helped tremendously.

[medicmade]

i tryed it palm too, i forget i even have it, i do use poison control all the time.

[jdemaio]

I have a palm with epocrates on it...i never use it, i even stopped bringing it to work.

[EmtChris82]

I have a palm PDA with Epocrates Dxsaurus and an Informed Field Guide, I find the programs helpful when I have to time to use them. Mostly I use the calendar section to keep all of the shifts straight.

[princessmedic]

does Ipod offer anything?

[brandon911]

The only thing palm I use at work is my PSP. I highly recommend you get one if you dont have one. LOL.

[medicgoddess]

I've got several programs on my palm that my medic instructor downloaded for me while I was going thru school. I used them for reference while studying for registry (which was a big help)but I always forget I have it when on a call.

[musicemt]

I tried using a Palm for a while, but I had a cheap one and found the program to be TOO informative to give me quick facts in seconds, so I quit using it. Now I carry an Informed field guide in my back pocket and stash an EMS medication guide on the bench, and that gives me all I need. Cheaper than buying a Palm, too.

[PSYCtest040]

The only time I ever used it on a call was to look up a drug the pt was on that the paramedic was unsure of. Mostly I use it after a call if I need to look something up, I have a dictionary so I can check my spelling and also have my protocols in PDF on it.

[RichmondMedik]

I have lots of medical programs on my palm - use it almost every shift -- either during patient care or teaching new providers - i would be upset if I lost it -- I do not base my care or skills on it but it is a good adjunct to what I can use

[drthrockmorton]

RichmondMedik,

What specific programs do you use?

(I agree, I use mine almost every shift too)

[RichmondMedik]

Epocrates - I show new providers the multi check feature and how medications interact --- Palm EKG is good one that gets a lot of use - eponyms for those little known syndromes

[Firespec35]

Does anyone carry one of the palm/treo phones. I was thinking about one of those to save carrying extra stuff around and you can ged a SD card in one so you can carry upto 1 gb of info.

[jdemaio]

My Sat/Sun partner has a treo and swears by it, I am convinced that if he lost it...he'd be absolutley lost...I mean, almost everything he does revolves around the usage of this phone. I'd get one but they're too big and I'm not really all that important.