Wanted: Medical Student / Professional to Review ePocrates

[marlof]

<a href="http://www.epocrates.com/">http://www.epocrates.com/</a><br /><br />As we <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8604">posted earlier</a>, ePocrates is working on a Pocket PC release of their product. This release is in its final stages, and we've received a request to review the product. Pocket PC Thoughts would gladly host a review, but the problem is that we don't have the medical expertise to do such a review justice. And that's how we came up with the following idea.<br /><br />If you're a medical student or professional, and you would like to review ePocrates, please reply to this thread informing us why you would be the best pick. Next Wednesday March 26, I'll pick the reviewer from the replies to this thread. The reviewer will receive a beta copy of ePocrates for the Pocket PC to do the review. He or she will get two weeks after receiving the product to test the product, and write up the review. This review will be posted on the front page of Thoughts after it has been approved by one of our editors. As a bonus for the reviewer, he or she will receive a free copy of ePocrates next to the eternal fame of having his or her name show up as an author on Thoughts. So if you're interested, please raise your hand in this thread!

[snazzy]

I'd like to give it a go. I've tried epocrates on palm software and it seems it easiest to use, compared to tarascon and skyscape on pocketpc.

I'm a 2nd yr student. Drug references come in really handy.

[ML]

I would like to respond to your inquiry for reviewers for the soon to be released ePocrates for the Pocket PC. I would be interested in reviewing the program on behalf of Pocket PC Thoughts. I myself am a medical professional and instructor for both paramedic and nursing programs. In addition I instruct several programs on advanced cardiac and pediatric care and provide consulting services to numerous pharmaceutical companies specific to drug development and marketing.

In addition to my direct experience with the medical industry, I have extensive experience in the IT sector including several certifications (such at MCSE) and have some experience developing on the Pocket PC and Palm Platforms (mostly database development).

Finally, I am an avid reader of Pocket PC Thoughts (I stop by at least twice a day) and would be honored to contribute to this site.

[trepine]

I would be happy to review it for you. I am a surgery resident (plastics), and used epocrates daily (that is for the 5 months I had a palm-Tungsten T), then I went back to PocketPC (my daily companion since my Nino). In fact the _ONLY_ reason that I bought the Tungsten was for epocrates, but just couldn't stand the palm interface. Now I am happily attached to my new Axim. Let me know if I can help.

Gilman
http://www.plastics2002.com
http://www.radiologyapplicant.com
http://www.driverupdate.com

[kkyzar]

Hey I've been using Epocrates for several years and have seen it go through many changes. I am a Family Practice physician and also include alternative medicine in my practice. The new alt. med section of Epocrates pro has been a great improvement. Alas, my favorite platform is Pocket PC and I would muche prefer my ipaQ screen to my Clie NR70, which I use in the office. I also use the Clie for entering prescriptions and beaming them to an IR printer for the past year, using a program called iScribe. I am glad to see Epocrates comming out with a PPC-compatable version of their great program. If all physicians usedf this type of program, there would be a lot less drug interactions and iatrogenic (Dr-related) morbidity and mortality each year.

Would love to give it a try.

Sincerely,

Kent Kyzar, M.D.
Health Integration Clnic

[tonyrxman]

In response to your inquiry for reviewers. It would be an honor to review this much awaited product. I am a pharmacist who works in the retail
sector, but more important, I work on the mission field. I have experience with other medical pocket pc software (i.e., A2ZDrugs, Lexi-Drugs). Working on the mission field (with Group Health Organization) requires a software that is quick, efficient and the ability to update often. I'm hoping ePocrates is up for the task.....

In a note, thanks Jason and company for such a terrific site....

Blessings,
Anthony Nicoletti Rph

[yunez]

jason giev me teh free copy ia m med studient (verry smart) ok thx bye


jk. some very qualified people here

[tigerhunter]

OK, I like the idea of reaching eternity by having my name posted as a reviewer. I can think of easier ways to reach posterity, but none as efficient as this one. Most likely than not, I will never be awarded an Academy award, and will not become a Nobel laureate. Furthermore, I have no children; have written no books, neither planted any trees. Hence, this way to transcend suits me fine, and it is also compatible with my astral chart…
On the practical side, I am a physician with training in Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Biostatistics, and Pocket PC intricacies (this last on my own). I have never used epocrates (did I write it right?) so I got no bias.

Best regards,

Sergio Saldivar-Salazar, MD, MS.

[email protected]

[surur]

I wont go into a long spiel, but I'm game for a review. I probably know the brains of my computers better than my psychiatric patients, but then they are much simpler beasts after all.

Dr M.S. Davids MBChB

[Jude]

Here's the thing. I'm currently a medical intern and Pocket PC user. And I'm now living with a friend who is currently a resident in Obstetrics-Gynecology and who owns a Palm. We work at the same hospital and are both avid techies. I've been a Pocket PC stalwart for the past year. She's a long-time Palm user whom I've just recently been able to persuade to switch and get a Pocket PC as her new PDA. I was able to convince her partly because of the announced release of ePocrates for the Pocket PC. I haven't used ePocrates for a long time and have grown rather unfamiliar with it beause of my sticking to the Pocket PC platform, whereas she has it on her Palm and uses it regularly.

Because of our situation I believe we'd be a great pick for doing the review. We'd be able to come up with a sort of he-said/she-said review of ePocrates. Aside from the usual his-and-hers schtick, we can review the software from various perspectives, that of medical student (me) and medical professional (her), Pocket PC aficionado (me) and Palm switcher (her), ePocrates apprentice (me) and ePocrates expert (her).

I don't know if it'd be a problem getting a copy for each of us for the review. But if it is, we won't mind sharing one copy on one device since we swap and share Pocket PCs a lot anyway (I'm still kind of teaching her how to use hers). Regarding the free copy we're supposed to receive if ever we are chosen, we won't mind getting just one copy either (I'd most probably be the beneficiary of that :wink: ).

As for my writing/computer credentials, during my years in and outside of medical school I've worked regularly as a freelance writer for various PR firms and publications, and as a writer/designer for a game software/animation company. Just recently I wrote a review of several Pocket PC multimedia apps for a magazine. My friend on the other hand is an extremely capable doctor full of intelligent opinions which she is immensely capable of expressing. She is in charge of managing her department's computer equipment and is also the administrator of their website.

[bkerrins]

My wife is a CRNA and has always wanted epocrates...when I gave her a PPC for Christmas she was stoked...until of course she found out that it was for the Palm OS, which took me until the wee hours of the night to explain the difference. When she found out the one thing she wanted to download wouldn't work I ended up in the doghouse. So, just to get me back inside where it's warm and dry could I please get a copy of the beta version for her??

[QTaximGrL]

OK let me make this short. My name is Alfreda and I am a 4th year Pharmacy Intern at St. John's University. I work in a retail store and intern in a hospital. If I were given the chance to critique Epocrates, I would be able to give pros and cons about using the software in both settings. In addition, I am in the Pharmacy Leadership Society, which is looking to purchase bulk amounts of PocketPCs and Medical Software for all the students in the Pharmacy program. This would be great for the approximate 1000 students in my school. Basically, I would be able to write a review based on a retail setting, institutional setting and an educational setting.
Also, I was editor of the Brooklyn Technical High School Newspaper (The Survey.) Because of my experience doing that, I have writing, editorial, and computer layout skills.
I have owned a Palm m505, Palm m515, Audiovox Maestro, and currently using the Dell Axim X5. Medical software I have used are Epocrates (PalmOS) and Tarascon, mobilePDR and mobileMicromedex on the PocketPC. I find them very beneficial during work and school. So I hope that I can have the chance to review this program and compare it to many of the ones I have used already. Because of my associations, credentials and experience with the PocketPC, I believe I should be considered as a reviewer for the Epocrates Software.

Many Thanks!
Alfreda Chung (Pharmacy Intern)

[bretzke]

How's this for a quick review:

Who am I?

--I've used the palm version for 3+ years
--I'm currently a beta-tester for ePocrates PPC
--I have tried all the other drug references for palm & PPC
--I'm a clinical pharmacist

What have I found?

--Works/looks/feels just like the palm version.
--The charts section is not yet complete, so I can't comment on them
--Infectious Disease section not yet available, so ditto above
--Could use more color to highlight function/features
--Still the easiest/fastest/most intuitive drug reference available

David Bretzke

[oboejoe]

I'm a resident in Internal Medicine and I have been using the Pocket PC for the last 3 years. The latest drug guides I have used include Mobile MicroMedex and Tarascon (beta version)

I would like to be involved in testing Epocrates for Pocket PC.

[Iain L. Grant]

I am offering to review epocrates. A tedious justification exists below indicating a degree of computer literacy, handheld familiarity and maybe even a medical degree. I am familiar with epocrates as it is the one application that my palm based colleagues lord over me. Two lone pocket pc rangers exist in our office, we stick with our devices as they contain billing software and the essential "Tonto, what the .... do I do now" manual. But now the west has been conquered, Doctors write prescriptions, and when it comes to some new drug, that posse of palm based residents are quicker on the draw than I am. My pearl handled, two year old edition of LexiCE just doesn't cut it. I want to level the playing field.

Boring Justification:

I am a partner in an 18 physician specialist Mid West Based, Ear nose and throat practice. In addition we have a strong nationally ranked residency program. Palm devices (M505) and regular updates of epocrates are provided gratis to any physician in our hospital;a 600 bed, level three trauma center. Multiple sync stations are available throughout. In addition an 802.11b network for patient information, drug prescription and input of medical orders is available for all inpatients(but not outpatients). We deal with the full gamut of sick people. From the intensive care unit to some primary care and so need a wide range of drug related information. A major focus of this initiative has been to reduce patient errors.


For outpatients consulting our specialty groups, a handheld drug information solution is an immediate need. Ideally this could be beamed IF to a printer. I was aware that this Epocrates for PocketPC was under development. For billing reasons, I stick with a PocketPC device. Our manuals and some texts are created in Frontpage and viewed through PocketIE, the CPT code book is a Visual CE database. Patient scheduling information and surgical procedure information is emailed to me and viewed in PocketExcel, all through ActiveSYnc. In short, when it comes to immediatetely available information, there are tons of benefits in using a Pocket PC platform over the palm. Drug information is not one of them.

I drop by your site daily, am quietly awaiting the next release of the PocketPc OS. It would be an honor to review this product. Despite it's (palm) heritage, I suspect the genetics are good.

Sincerely,

Iain L. Grant

[RedGenesis]

I can not tell you how long I have been waiting for ePocrates to come to the Pocket PC platform. The only reason I carry around an extra Palm OS device is for ePocrates. The only application I have installed on my palm is ePocrates. I have been hoping that ePocrates would come to the Pocket PC/Win CE for years!

I am a third year medical student and have a lot of time to review ePocrates for the Pocket PC. I am studying for the national board exam and use ePocrates many many times a day to look up pharmacology information. I will look at EVERY piece of information on every page if you let me review ePocrates.

I have also studied a lot of alternatice medicine and currently use this section of ePocrates frequently.

As far as my Pocket PC device, I use the Toshiba e740.

Thank you for the consideration!

[marlof]

Wow! First of all thanks to all people offering their sparse free time to test ePocrates, and write a review of it for Thoughts. Although you all sound very qualified to write that review, the tough choice to pick one is on me. I've decided to take Jude up on his word to write a He Said / She Said version of a review. Why? It sounds like a really great idea to me, and He Said / She Said happens to be a movie my girlfriend really likes. :) Jude, check the e-mail you've used to register on Thoughts (you can look it up on your profile), and you'll find a message later today/tomorrow by me with all the necessary details. Once again, thanks to all offering their help!

[taiho]

I am an registered nurse and i used to have epocrates on my palm but now i swtich to pocket pc.It would be nice to have epocrates on my pocket pc as i have been using this program for about 5 yrs now..i would love to have a free copy to review it on a pocket pc platform...thank you..

Judy Santelices
Registered Nurse

[Steven Cedrone]

The reviewer has been picked (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10674&highlight=). Thanks again everyone!!!

Thread locked...

Steven Cedrone
Community Moderator