Technology in Medicine

Gil C. Grimes, MD

Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine

Scott & White Memorial Hospital and ClinicTexas A&M University Health Science CenterScott & White Memorial Hospital and Clinic

Texas A&M University Health Science Center

My Biases

• I use Windows based products

• I use an iPac• I have used Palm in

the past• I love portability• I love not needing

internet access

PocketPC Devices

Why Do I Need a Handheld?

• Fast access to a large amount of info

• Medical math/ calculating drips, etc.

• Protocol, recommendations, formularies

• Use EBM at the bedside

• EMR (electronic medical record)

• Wireless access to WWW

• E/M, CPT coding

Why Do I Need a Handheld?

• Medical references

• Billing, scheduling, reminders

• Electronic prescribing

• Medical documents/ internet content

• Getting rid of yellow stickies/ database

• Software for RNs

Why Do I Need a Handheld?

• Portable

• Calendar, contacts, email, task list, phone numbers, pager numbers, passwords

• Amazing storage capacity, advanced networking, encryption capability

• Procedure logs

• Dictation

Medical Uses

Patient Care– Medical Calculators– Pregnancy Calculators– EBM Tools– Immunization

Schedules– Medical Texts– Prescriptions– Dictation– Medical Records

– Drug References– Antibiotic Guides– Treatment Protocols

– Clinical Decision Tools

– Coding

Medical Software

• Drug References– ePocrates Rx– Johns-Hopkins ABX Guide– LexiDrugs– Sanford Guide– MicroMedex– Pocket PDR– Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopia

Medical Software, Cont.

• Texts and Reference Materials– Washington Manual– Outlines in Clinical Medicine– 5 Minute Clinical Consult– Harrison’s– Immunization Schedules– ER References

Medical Software, Cont

• Clinical Calculators– MedMath– MedCalc– MedRules– Archimedes– ATP-III– ABG Pro– STAT Coder– STAT Cardiac Risk

– Preg Wheel– Many More

Medical Software, Cont

• Evidence Based Medicine Tools– InfoRetriever– DynaMed– EBM Tables– Up to Date– JFP Poems

Medical Software, Cont.

• Prescribing/Dictation– Allscripts– ePhysician– Medical Manager (WebMD)

Commercial Web Sites

Reviews/Advice/Downloads• CollectiveMed.com• Handango.com • HandheldMed.com• MedicalPocketPC.com• PDAcotex.comTalking with health prof• Doctor Palm• PDAMD.com• Wireless Medical

Applications• Ectopic Brain• EMBI.NET

Educational Sites• Dalhousie University• University of Arizona• Children’s National

Medical Center• University of Minnesota

Databases• Handbase.com

USPTF AHRQ tool

InfoRetriever 2007Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP, PocketPC, Palm and Web

Bayesian diagnostic test / H&P calculator >2000

Basic drug info by class and cost for 1200 drugs

Key evidence-basedtreatment guidelines

Cochrane Databaseof Systematic Reviews:over 1500 abstracts

140 clinical predictionrules

www.InfoPOEMs.com

2400+ short research synopses (400 added per year)

5 Minute Clinical Consult

Photo Atlas >500 photos

Saving Time By Downloading Other’s Databases

www.ddhsoftware.com/gallery

Considerations

• Palm OS vs Pocket PC• At least 128MB w/ 100MB accessible to user for

Palm OS• At least 192 MB total memory (128 MB ROM and 64

MB SDRAM) for Pocket PC• Palm OS tend to be less $ than Pocket PC• Ask yourself what your needs are

– Memory cards, durability, battery life, wireless, screen size/color, price range

– Integrated wireless

• Go to electronics store and look at handhelds

Palm OS• More software• More intuitive interface• Longer battery life• Smaller, compact design• $100 to $600

Pocket PC• Faster, more powerful

processors• Higher-end software• Better screen resolutions• Better wireless capability• Increased security features• Better integration with

Word, Excel, Outlook, and Power Point

• $180 to $700

Basic PocketPC Built-In Functions

Calendar

Contacts

Inbox (Email)

Pocket MS Word

Pocket Excel

Pocket IE

Tasks

Note Pad

Voice Recorder

ActiveSync

Windows Media Player (MP3, video, etc)

Practical Applications

• Demo of programs on my handheld• Useful Websites

– Ectopic Brain http://pbrain.hypermart.net/– The Palmdoc chronicles http://palmdoc.net/– FSU Handheld website

http://med.fsu.edu/library/PDAsoftware.asp– Meister Med http://www.meistermed.com/index.htm– EMBI.NET http://www.embi.net/handheld.html– Skyscape http://www.skyscape.com/index/home.aspx– Handheldmed

http://www.handheldmed.com/Site.New/Pages.php?p=welcome

2005

ISBN 0-387-40329-9