12-12-2005, 02:00 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Doctors Turning to PDAs
"I don't usually watch ER-type TV shows, but I've lately been intrigued by the latest ABC hit, Grey's Anatomy. If you've seen it, then you know that the whole staff of Seattle Grace Hospital is young, has lots of sex, and hardly ever sleeps. But have you noticed that they don't spend much time at computers either? n fact, the cast makes it look like IT hasn't made any progress in health care at all. The doctors stride into a room knowing all the diseases and treatments from memory and almost never refer to a PDA or other electronic device. How does this square with doctors' attitudes and behaviors in the real world? A new Forrester Research survey of 1,300 doctors reports that four out of five doctors say technology "makes life easier." Although consumers as a whole are split evenly between technology optimists and pessimists, among doctors there are four technology optimists for every pessimist. And more than 70 percent of doctors said they think electronic medical records systems will help them provide better patient care and run more efficient practices."
An interesting article at InfoWorld which focuses on the disparity between reality and reputation in the medical workspace. They state that, "If doctors are so keen on IT, why do they have the reputation for being the most notorious, heels-dug-in Luddites?". To an extent, I can see why such a reputation exists, but the tides are certainly turning (as InfoWorld has identified). Every year, I see more and more medical students and doctors adopting PDAs to aid in their work. If you're a medico and you're reading this site, it's more than likely you fit in that category, so how has it helped you with your work? To kick things off, I use it almost daily for accessing indispensable texts and updated medical news. Of course, I'll still waiting for GCQ to become mainstream - now that'll be heaven. :mrgreen:
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12-12-2005, 03:10 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 7
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I have been using my PDA on daily basis without fail for the past 3 years. Switching from Palm to PPC currently doesnt make much of a difference afterall in my daily ward work PDA usage. I use iSilo most of the time, to refer to the "Pearls" which I have created for quick reference in ward; and also some common antibiotic dosages adapted from the well-known Drug Dosages by Frank Shann. Skyscape softwares like 5MCC and 5MPed are only for occasional reference.
I also have PhatNotes as my main notes-taking software; in fact, I think it is better than using Pocket Word. I have all my self-made medical notes in Phatnotes, and making reference is swift and user-friendly.
I have Pocket Excel to record down all the departmental phone numbers and clinic hours (so that I can call the right person at the right time without having to go thru the operators everytime).
PocketInformant and PocketBreeze keep me always alert of the coming up agendas or tasks. Alarm feature in the PDA is, IMO, one of the most important features! Jotting down all the special instructions from specialists and consultants, using the Calligrapher, has in fact increased my text input speed.
During on-call days, I will read some ebooks using MobiPocket, and occasionally play Bejeweled2 to kill time (if the ward is not busy, or when very stressed up!) I seldom read journals in my PDA, because the screen is jsut too small; but occasionally I keep some interesting journals just to "show off" to my consultants during ward rounds. For that I use Repligo.
Finally not forgetting the calculator function (I use MxCalculator) which is essential in Pediatric dosages. All in all, I still think an average doctor like me, is not well-equipped without a PDA at work! 
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12-12-2005, 03:22 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 287
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I really don't think that doctors using mobile tech is a new trend, but is a continuing one!
I have worked with medical professionals and facilities in creating mobile solutions and have doing so foe a few years now. In my opinion they have taken to mobile tech far faster than a LOT of other industries. While there may have been a lot of business users using e-mail devices for a while it is certainly only recently that there has been much in the way of business application use.
One of the applications I built was for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants students in their clinical rotations. They are required to log patient encounters and were able to do this using their PDA. The universities that bought this solution required that their students buy a PDA as there was just sooo much advantage over using paper.
Medical professionals need to have access to a LOT of information and they have been using mobile gear for a long time to do it. Of course not all are but there are far more doctors than engineers, field services and other professional using mobile solutions.
Maybe IT in general has not been a strong point with the medical profession but mobile technology has.
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12-12-2005, 03:57 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 193
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I work for a medical software company...things are definately starting to change 
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12-12-2005, 04:07 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 41
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Shouldn't that headline read "More PDA geeks becoming doctors"????
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12-12-2005, 04:26 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 651
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The medical software company I work for is looking towards pda's now. They really want to start pushing mobility in medicine and that's one of the reasons why they hired me.
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12-12-2005, 04:54 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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One of the Docs I visit has his whole office running on wireless connected Tablets. They had a problem with the system the last time I was in there, and he was having to resort to paper. He said it has been a while, and he was trying to remember where everything was on the paper form. We talked about PDAs and I showed him my K-Jam. He said the group he was in was looking at more mobile solutions like that.
__________________
Sometimes you are the anteater, sometimes you are the ant.
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12-12-2005, 05:12 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 24
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PDAs Fine, but Medical Records?
Using PDAs to research, compile, and manage information is a big step, but from my understanding the bigger problem is the lack of a uniform automated medical records system. There are HUGE privacy issues, but also significant lifesaving benefits. I think that the VA is really at the forefront of records automation, but they are in a unique situation.
And I think that the doc shows are still using clipboards and paper resources because you can be more dramatic with them. You look kinda geeky tapping away on your PDA, and you really don't want to slam it down or fling it across the room. :wink:
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12-12-2005, 11:01 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1
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I have used Uptodate for the last few years. Although expensive and requiring a 1G memory card it is fantastic. The most comprehensive and uptodate endocrine and general medicine package. Suprisingly there are few doctors using handhelds in my hospital. I am an senior consultant and I would say that I use technology more that my juniors. Has anyone used the Oxford text of acute medicine on the PPC? It would be very helpful to have a medical forum get feedback and to discuss these issues. There are clearly a number of mediocre iffy products out there but finding the real gems no matter the expense is worthwhile for those are seriously utalizing these products in their practice and not simply playing with the latest gimic.
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12-13-2005, 05:13 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 67
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I've been using a PDA for medicine since my Apple Newton Messagepad 2000 that I got in medical school. I never went to the palm-side, but got an iPaq when PocketPC first came out and now I have an XDA II that I use every day as an ER doc.
We don't do electronic record keeping and I can't access the meditech hospital information system, but I do use a pharmacopeia program every day and have a few skyscape medical references that I use almost daily. I also access medical info and journal articles with wireless web access. From what I see, most MDs and PAs use some sort of PDA for at least a drug reference and many nurses as well for drip calculators and reference.
The patient tracking has taken off in some offices, and during residency (I used to write progress notes on my newton and beam it to the hospital printers - most people didn't know that was even possible - most actually still don't!). Although a lot of different patient tracking programs are available that have PDA components or sync capablities, I think most medical professionals are only using a limited amount of PDA potential.
Anyway, I like my XDA II.
All hail the medical pda geek!
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ClintXDA Exec, Windows Mobile 6 (OS 5.2.318), 4gbSD, Earthmate BT-GPS, Jabra 250v, T-MobileOnly two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
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