What's New

August 29, 2003

 
Drug Interaction Checkers

One of the biggest "gee whiz" applications for the medical PDA has to be multi-drug interaction checking. It never ceases to amaze my patients when I pull out my Palm m515, tap in their list of drugs, and pull up a cross-referenced list of potential interactions in matter of seconds. The implications for improving patient safety with these applications are huge. Curiously, many physicians are not taking full advantage of the drug interaction features built in to the drug reference programs they utilize every day. There are so many programs available with this capability, that there's really no excuse for any PDA-toting clinician not to use one. Here's a list of the drug interaction checkers currently available:

ePocrates Rx and Rx Pro

Franklin's Medical Letter Handbook of Adverse Drug Interactions

Lexi-Interact

mobilePDR

PEPID DI

Skyscape's DrugIx, HerbalIx, and iFacts

Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia Deluxe

If you don't already have one of these amazing programs, what are you waiting for?
posted by Kent 7:25 PM | |

 
Full Battle Dress

If you work in a harsh environment or just want to take your PDA on vacation with you (hiking, camping, boating, kayaking, etc.) but wish to minimize the risk to your valuable handheld, check out these virtually indestructible water-resistant cases from Otter Box. The Armor 3600 (shown below) was recently reviewed on The Gadgeteer, and the less-expensive Armor 2000 was reviewed last year. From the photos accompanying the reviews, it certainly looks as if these cases can take a beating!


posted by Kent 12:11 PM | |

August 28, 2003

 
Palm Healthcare Demo (PowerPoint)

On August 5th, Palm held a live Web demo of healthcare applications. They had so many people logged-on (thousands) that some people couldn't see the entire demo live. They have since posted the demo on the Web in PowerPoint format. Screens appear as screen shots instead of a live demo, but it's pretty easy to follow. Click here to download a copy.
posted by Kent 7:42 PM | |

 
Profile-MD

I usually don't mention consumer programs here, as the Ectopic Brain is mainly for clinical users. However, Profile-MD is worth a look if you know someone who needs to keep track of lots of personal health information. Wouldn't it be great it if all of our patients came into the office with this sort of thing in hand? Yeah, I know...I'm dreaming. ;-)

Profile-MD is a sophisticated personal and family health record for Palm Powered handhelds (Palm OS 5 support is not yet available, but is in the works). This physician-designed program provides individuals and families with sophisticated tools to assist in the optimization of health, even for people with complex medical problems such as diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and chronic lung disease.

Profile-MD includes features to facilitate preventative medical care, record allergies and adverse drug reactions, issue medication reminders, and store a detailed family and medical history for every member of your family.
posted by Kent 2:26 PM | |

August 27, 2003

 
APPRISOR

APPRISOR from Mobile Medica provides valuable medical guidelines from several leading medical associations in PDA format. APPRISOR is a content delivery system specifically designed for medical organizations. In the APPRISOR system, Mobile Medica provides a single source for document creation and delivery via freely distributed document viewers for either Palm OS or Microsoft Pocket PC handhelds. Each APPRISOR document can be read on both Palm OS or Pocket PC OS systems, and even transferred between the two. APPRISOR supports Palm OS 3.0 and above including OS 5.
posted by Kent 4:30 PM | |

 
Archimedes Medical Calculator Updated

Archimedes, the free medical calculator by Skyscape, was recently updated to version 6.0.165.

Archimedes provides you with 70 preprogrammed formulas that include specialties such as cardiology, pharmacology, hematology, FEN, pediatrics, pulmonary and renal. From a built-in calculator assisting with value field input, to control of decimal point placement in formula results, Archimedes allows you to determine the input and output details for every formula, and includes a help button giving you access to complete formula information.


posted by Kent 1:09 PM | |

 
GRACE ACS Risk Updated

The freeware GRACE ACS Risk program on the StatCoder.com website has been updated to include morbidity and mortality calculations for up to 6 months after a patient is hospitalized with Acute Coronary Syndrome based on the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events, an international outcomes study. It incorporates the following variables: age; CHF; heart rate; systolic BP; serum creatinine; cardiac arrest at admission; ST-segment deviation; elevated cardiac enzymes and calculates the absolute risk of death or death/MI in the inpatient period and up to 6 months.
posted by Kent 9:12 AM | |

 
Mt. Sinai Uses Skyscape for Cardiology Study

Mt. Sinai Hospital is using Skyscape to provide the software infrastructure and application that served as a base for a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study. The goal of the two-year research project, titled Palm Risk-Outcomes Manager & Patient Tracker (PROMPT), was to determine how the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) by their physicians benefits cardiology patients and to integrate PDAs and other enterprise systems.

The PROMPT Program at Mt. Sinai, which ran from September 2000 to September 2002, included approximately 14,500 patients as well as 125 cardiologists, divided into three study groups, including one control group. The program requirements included meeting the specific needs of studying cardiovascular risk factors, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and monitoring physician behavior. The solution used by the cardiologists allowed patient data to be collected on Palm Vx PDAs at the time of a clinical encounter relating to cardiovascular risk, displayed previously captured data, prompted physicians to counsel lifestyle changes, and calculated risk scores and target clinical parameters.

The Skyscape solution enabled physicians to collect data and transmit it to a central server utilizing an automated, bi-directional synchronization process that uploaded the user-collected data from a physician’s PDA and appended records in the network database, and downloaded demographics and appointments from the network database to the PDA. Additionally, the network database was able to receive data from hospital enterprise systems and create queries built to answer research questions, support project surveillance and administration, quarterly reports or chart extraction. This is the first time cardiologists have had access to dynamic content systems for their handheld computers.
posted by Kent 9:09 AM | |

August 26, 2003

 
PaLMS in your Palm

Professor Leslie Burnett, director of Australia's Pacific Laboratory Medicine Services (PaLMS), recently e-mailed me about a PDA application they have developed. LabInfo contains their entire laboratory database of pathology tests. The database includes information on patient preparation, optimal specimen collection, reference ranges, artifacts, and some interpretative information, although this is not its primary role. There are two versions available, one optimised for medical professionals (the "doctor" version) and a second (smaller) version optimised for allied health use (the "collector" version). Both versions are free. The databases are updated monthly, and there are built-in safeguards against using out-of-date information.

Since PaLMS is based in Sydney, Australia, the information in LabInfo is expressed in S.I. units, and some of the contact details (e.g., phone numbers for contacting laboratory staff) are relevant only to their local geographic area. However, their intention in designing the program was to make it useful for clinical staff even if they were not local to Australia.
posted by Kent 7:04 PM | |

 
MindMapper

One of the most frustrating things about using your Palm Powered device as an ectopic brain is trying to figure out a way to represent branching algorithms in an easy-to-use fashion. I've experimented with bookmarked Doc files and hyperlinked documents using iSilo in the past, but have found the results less than satisfactory in most cases.

MindMapper, from StepByteStep, lets you create attractive, easy-to-follow visual branching algorithms right on your PDA. You can customize the color selections for branches, text, and backgrounds, move branches using drag and drop, create custom categories, assign custom icons, and more.


posted by Kent 10:12 AM | |

 
Evidence Based Pearls

Evidence Based Pearls from RxPalm provides you with the latest evidence based information to treat common primary care conditions, from decisions about work-up to questions about the best pharmaceutical approach. The program is fully referenced and updated quarterly. You can even add your own "Personal Pearls." $19.95 for a one-year subscription.
posted by Kent 8:05 AM | |

August 25, 2003

 
Saunders' Pocket Essentials of Clinical Medicine

Dr. Mohammad Al-Ubaydli recently reviewed the PDA version of Saunders' Pocket Essentials of Clinical Medicine, which compares favorably to Griffith's 5 Minute Clinical Consult or the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine - but at half the price.
posted by Kent 1:12 PM | |

August 20, 2003

 
Riley Kidometer Updated

The Riley Kidometer was recently updated to version 4.4. This free update adds support for the latest Palm Powered hardware. This is Kidometer’s seventh free update since its introduction in April of 2001.

The Riley Kidometer is a quick and intuitive database of age-based normals. It was created by the staff of Riley Hospital for Children and is now available for users everywhere.
posted by Kent 6:27 PM | |

August 19, 2003

 
Brigham and Women's Hospital Chooses PatientKeeper

The Department of Medicine at the Brigham and Women's Hospital has selected PatientKeeper to supply mobile software for its physicians. The selection follows a three-month study that the hospital and PatientKeeper claim drew positive responses from physicians and a 15 percent increase in revenue due to improved charge capture at the point of care.

Source: PDAStreet
posted by Kent 6:06 PM | |

August 18, 2003

 
It's a Date!

Here's a program that's long overdue. DatePak, from Natara Software, allows you to share calendars with the rest of your team. It's a simple idea, but it solves a big problem for physician groups and training programs.
posted by Kent 12:47 PM | |

August 17, 2003

 
MedRules Among PalmGear's Top 10

Apparently, MedRules has been selected as one of PalmGear's top 10 applications for July.

Wow. One of these days, I really need to get around to updating this program. ;-)
posted by Kent 9:50 PM | |

August 15, 2003

 
The Future of Medicine is in Your Hands

Palm has updated its healthcare solutions page to feature PatientKeeper and MercuryMD.

PatientKeeper's solutions support a wide spectrum of tasks, including rounding support, clinical results and charge capture. MercuryMD's MData Enterprise System delivers patient information directly to clinicians' handhelds to improve patient care, decrease medical errors, and shorten length of stay.


posted by Kent 5:48 PM | |

August 14, 2003

 
BluefishRx Writer/ICD-9/CPT Bundle

BluefishRx is suite of applications for Palm Powered handhelds designed to streamline paper-based processes. With BluefishRx Writer, physicians can write prescriptions directly on their handheld in seconds with a few strokes of the stylus. Plus, ICD-9 and CPT code information is now quickly within reach with the added benefit of a powerful multi-keyword search engine.


posted by Kent 9:32 PM | |

August 12, 2003

 
Web Host Migration Alert

I've been informed by my Web host, HyperMart, that they will be moving the Ectopic Brain to a new server tomorrow. I won't be making any more changes to the site until the migration is complete, which is supposed to be by Thursday. The URL will remain the same. The site should stay up during the migration, but if you have any difficulty accessing it over the next couple of days, that's what's going on.

Also, you may have noticed that the comments have been a little flaky over the past two days or so. I asked the folks at HaloScan what the deal was, and they told me that they've been doing some system maintenance. Hopefully this won't cause any further disruptions.
posted by Kent 1:26 PM | |

 
InfusiCalc Updated

InfusiCalc is a drug dose calculator for both continuous infusions or bolus drugs given parenterally. The program is particularly applicable to critical care/ICU, anesthesia, emergency medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, surgery, and EMS.

Version 2.0 is a major update. The program now supports Palm OS 5 and high-resolution screens, allows beaming of drugs or categories of drugs, and lets users choose between SI and U.S. units.

A free time-limited demo version is available.



posted by Kent 1:17 PM | |

August 11, 2003

 
HandECoder

HandECoder isn't Just Another Coding Application. HandECoder incorporates both ICD-9 and CPT coding in a single program, and includes information on medical necessity coding and bundling as well, making it a lot more useful than a simple "list o' codes." The program is customizable by specialty to make your searches faster and more relevant.


posted by Kent 10:06 PM | |

August 8, 2003

 
Dr. Andrew Schechtman: Treating Monrovia's Wounded

This is only tangentially related to Palm Powered handhelds. Some of you may know Dr. Andrew Schechtman, who created MeisterMed and quite a few very useful iSilo references (including CodeMeister, which I use daily).

What you may not know is that Dr. Schechtman is very involved in Doctors Without Borders, and is currently volunteering in war-torn Liberia. You can read about some of his experiences on the BBC News site:

Doctor's casebook: Treating Monrovia's wounded
Doctor's casebook: Treating Monrovia's wounded II
Doctor's casebook: Treating Monrovia's wounded III

You can also listen to an interview with Dr. Schechtman on NPR's All Things Considered.

To make a donation to Doctors Without Borders and support Dr. Schectman's work in Liberia, click here.
posted by Kent 6:18 PM | |

 
MedicineNet Pocket Drug Guide

Beiks has just released a handheld version of MedicineNet's prescription drug database.

The MedicineNet Pocket Drug Guide includes more than 400 monographs on over 1,000 generic and brand-name U.S. medications. The database, which is available for Palm Powered and Pocket PC devices, costs $9.95. A version that includes a copy of the BDicty Dictionary Reader Pro and the ability to add and edit articles costs $17.95.

Users can search for drug information by keyword. Topics covered in each drug monograph include: generic name, brand name, drug class and mechanism, preparations, storage, indications, dosing, drug interactions, pregnancy and lactation, and side effects.


posted by Kent 3:36 PM | |

August 6, 2003

 
eResidency

The eResidency Residency Management System offers a variety of tools to automate many labor-intensive tasks of residency program administration, including procedure logs, evaluations, and group scheduling. They use an AvantGo channel to synchronise information centrally, and optionally stream clinical newsletters to residents' PDAs.


posted by Kent 11:50 AM | |

 
Medical Palm Review Updated

Dr. Paul Arnold, an emergency physician at the University Health Network in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, recently published the latest edition of his online newsletter, which chronicles recent developments in handheld computers and mobile medicine, and "provides useful pointers through the chaos for health care workers who want tools, not just gizmos".
posted by Kent 11:41 AM | |

 
Review Paper: Handheld Computing in Medicine

Here's a very thorough review article in the March/April 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association that looks at the current state of handheld computing in medicine. The article was written by Sandra Fisher, MD, Thomas E. Stewart, MD, FRCPC, Sangeeta Mehta, MD, FRCPC, Randy Wax, MD, FRCPC, and Stephen E. Lapinsky, MB, BCH, FRCPC.

Abstract: "Handheld computers have become a valuable and popular tool in various fields of medicine. A systematic review of articles was undertaken to summarize the current literature regarding the use of handheld devices in medicine. A variety of articles were identified, and relevant information for various medical fields was summarized. The literature search covered general information about handheld devices, the use of these devices to access medical literature, electronic pharmacopoeias, patient tracking, medical education, research, business management, e-prescribing, patient confidentiality, and costs as well as specialty-specific uses for personal digital assistants (PDAs).

"The authors concluded that only a small number of articles provide evidence-based information about the use of PDAs in medicine. The majority of articles provide descriptive information, which is nevertheless of value. This article aims to increase the awareness among physicians about the potential roles for handheld computers in medicine and to encourage the further evaluation of their use."

The article is in Adobe PDF format, so you'll need Acrobat Reader to view it.
posted by Kent 11:21 AM | |

August 5, 2003

 
PEPID Medical Calculators

Not satisfied with MedMath, MedCalc, or Archimedes? You might want to give PEPID's Medical Calculators a try.

The program features hundreds of equations, including normal lab reference ranges, conversion equations, critical care equations, equations by organ system (pulmonary, cardiac, metabolic, hematology, neurology), pediatric equations, IV drip calculations, SI unit conversions, and more!

PEPID MC is available as a stand-alone application, but is fully integrated with the PEPID Suite of applications. A free trial is available.


posted by Kent 8:33 PM | |

 
OsteoEx Customized Exercise Program

OsteoEx, sponsored by Aventis (the makers of Actonel), is a free Palm OS program that offers doctors the ability to create and beam a custom osteoporosis exercise prescription to a patient's PDA or to an IR-equipped printer. This application can serve as an important tool to enhance osteoporosis treatment and improve outcomes by encouraging patients to exercise.
posted by Kent 8:17 PM | |

 
A New Year for Doctors

This article in the New York Journal News discusses what it's like to be a new intern on July 1st (last month...I know, I'm a little slow).

Fortunately, most of the interns carried hand-held computers on which entire textbooks were stored.

"This is my ectopic brain," Dr. Miechelle O'Brien said. "I couldn't live without it."

Amen to that!
posted by Kent 7:32 PM | |

 
10 Quick Tips for a More User-Friendly PDA

Although it's not brand-new (dunno how I missed it until now), this article in the January, 2003 issue of Family Practice Management, written by Anil Chandrashekhar, MD, will help you make the most of your Palm Powered handheld.
posted by Kent 7:03 PM | |

 
DoseCalc Updated

Jeremy Adler's DoseCalc pediatric dosage calculator has been updated to Version 4.1, with improved graphics, pill history, and new interactivity with RxPrint (also by Jeremy, coming soon!)



posted by Kent 6:39 PM | |

August 4, 2003

 
ePocrates Usage Study

This study was conducted in order to evaluate physicians’ usage and perceptions of ePocrates compared to other available clinical reference resources, such as medical journals and WebMD/Medscape.

"This study just provides the evidence to demonstrate what hundreds of thousands of doctors already know - that this source of information has become an indispensable part of medical practice, that helps us improve care," said Allen J. Bennett, M.D. FACP, internist, hematologist/oncologist and Chairman of the Committee on Medical Ethics at the Medical Society of the State of New York. "I have essentially stopped using other sources like the PDR and I use ePocrates Rx instead. I use it many, many times a day."

Over 1700 U.S. physicians responded to the survey. Most indicated that they trust ePocrates as much as their medical journals - and more than any other source of medical information including symposia, pharmaceutical sales representatives, CME, WebMD/Medscape, or the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR).

More than nine out of ten respondents now use ePocrates on a daily basis, and close to two-thirds use it four or more times a day, whether they are in the exam room (34 percent), hospital (32 percent), or the office (31 percent).

Click here to read the study (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
posted by Kent 8:20 PM | |

 
RepliGo vs. Adobe

According to Dr. Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, RepliGo is software that should be on every clinician's handheld, but it's a little tricky to understand its significance at first. This article on Handhelds For Doctors describes how you can use RepliGo to put Adobe PDF files on your PDA. If you've ever used Adobe's reader for Palm OS, you'll be glad there's an alternative.
posted by Kent 5:47 PM | |

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