The Palmdoc Chronicles

Sunday, May 30, 2004

Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests

Unbound Medicine has just released Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests

Application Description:

Pocket Guide to Diagnostics Tests, 4/e for PDA provides quick, evidence-based information on the selection and interpretation of common diagnostic tests. Covering more than 350 laboratory, imaging, and microbiology tests, this handy reference is ideal for answering common questions such as:

* Which test is best to diagnose, screen, or follow a certain condition?
* How do I interpret an abnormal diagnostic test?
* How do I collect the appropriate specimen or prepare the patient for testing?
* Where can I find more information on this test in the medical literature?


Looks interesting. Skyscape has a similar product ABCLabData and it would be interesting to compare this head to head.

Friday, May 28, 2004

AMIA to Offer Members Mobile Medical Databases

The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), a provider of healthcare information management, research, development, and education, is working with Thomson MICROMEDEX to offer its members mobileMICROMEDEX, a mobile resource that provides drug, alternative medicine, toxicology and acute care information too Palm OS and Pocket PC PDAs or smartphones.

According to MICROMEDEX, the medical information in mobileMICROMEDEX is derived from the company's Healthcare Series databases and is downloadable to a clinicians' handheld. Also included is a drug interaction tool to help users check a patient's profile of medications (up to 32 at once) for potentially harmful interactions. Doctors can access information beyond basic interaction alerts, including Severity, Onset, Documentation, Adverse Effect, Clinical Management and Probable Mechanism.


Source: Palm Boulevard
Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary

Unbound Medicine has released Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary 2.2

Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, published by F.A. Davis, defines more terms than any other health science dictionary. With approximately 56,000 terms in all -- including more than 2,200 new terms -- Taber's 19th is the most comprehensive health science dictionary available today.
Healthprolink goes multiplatform

Bellevue, Wash.-based HealthProLink Inc. has released a version of its clinical documentation system for pharmacists that can be used on PDAs running the Windows Mobile operating system. The vendor already sells a version of the software that runs on Palm OS-based PDAs.

The HealthProLink system is designed to enable pharmacists to use PDAs to document clinical interventions, adverse drug reactions and medication errors. The application integrates the data on a server to enable pharmacy managers to access clinical documentation from multiple users.

The software provides customized report generation and cost savings documentation. It also offers hospital-specific therapeutic interchange guidelines and drug calculating tools.

For more information, go to www.healthprolink.com.


Source: MobileHealthData

Wednesday, May 26, 2004


Do you think Ishihara color plates on a Palm would be really useful and accurate to screen for Color Blindness? The quality of Palm screens these days has improved alot. I am posting this as a test also of Blogger's new "Hello" photoblog service.  Posted by Hello

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

EMOnCall

Skyscape has released Emergency Medicine On Call :

This user-friendly reference assists in the initial evaluation and treatment of the most frequently encountered problems in emergency medicine, both common and potentially life-threatening. Get instant access to 97 of the most common or important emergency medicine problems experienced by adult, pediatric, and geriatric populations. Each section includes the presenting problem, immediate questions, differential diagnosis, laboratory and diagnostic data, and treatment plan. Additional sections such as toxicologic emergencies, laboratory diagnosis, procedures, blood component therapy, and commonly used medications are also included and enhance the reference value as a single-source reference.


Skyscape also has other products for the ER personnel:
5MinuteEmerg 2
PktEM

5MEmerg2 is probably the most comprehensive as it covers more (600) topics. However you get to choose which suits you more.

Saturday, May 22, 2004

PDA App Flies High

MobileHealthData reports:

Boston MedFlight, a provider of critical care transport services in the New England area, soon will have mobile access to medical reference data from eMedicine.com Inc., Omaha, Neb. The not-for-profit organization, which was created through a collaboration of six Boston-area hospitals, will use the vendor's Clinical Knowledge Base application when transporting patients via its helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and ground vehicles.

The software features medical information on more than 6,500 diseases and conditions, as well as multimedia presentations, drug tables, and other clinical tools. The peer-reviewed information is provided by more than 10,000 authors and editors. It can be accessed via an Internet connection or on PDAs running the Palm OS or Windows Mobile operating system.

Boston Medflight's operations are based at Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Mass. For more information on the Clinical Knowledge Base application, go to www.emedicine.com.

Friday, May 21, 2004

Audience Response Made Easy with PDAs

I've always marvelled at the lectures/talks I've attended where there is instant feedback from the audience - realt-time polling - using specialised electronic voting equipment.
It was interesting to read in Family Medicine Notes of a recent paper in Jamia on "Audience Response Made Easy: Using Personal Digital Assistants as a Classroom Polling Tool".
The abstract:
Both teachers and students benefit from an interactive classroom. The teacher receives valuable input about effectiveness, student interest, and comprehension, whereas student participation, active learning, and enjoyment of the class are enhanced. Cost and deployment have limited the use of existing audience response systems, allowing anonymous linking of teachers and students in the classroom. These limitations can be circumvented, however, by use of personal digital assistants (PDAs), which are cheaper and widely used by students. In this study, the authors equipped a summer histology class of 12 students with PDAs and wireless Bluetooth cards to allow access to a central server. Teachers displayed questions in multiple-choice format as a Web page on the server and students responded with their PDAs, a process referred to as polling. Responses were immediately compiled, analyzed, and displayed. End-of-class survey results indicated that students were enthusiastic about the polling tool. The surveys also provided technical feedback that will be valuable in streamlining future trials


Fascinating. Now if there enough PDA (BT or Wifi equipped) users in the audience, this would be a feasible way to have an interactive audience the next time one gives a talk without having to invest too much on specialised polling equipment.
New XML feeds

Please note that I have now added Atom XML and RSS 1.0 links for those of you who prefer Atom or RSS to read this blog. Let me know if there are problems. Thanks.
Contact Management

How do you manage your Patient contacts? Do you use a specialised patient tracking app? I personally find these cumbersome. My most used program to track patients is Agendus (formerly known as Action Names) and as a long time registered user of Agendus, I can say it has served my needs very well. Agendus suits people (like doctors) whose meetings are very Contact-centric. I find it useful because you can link the Meeting event to the Contact and when you write meeting notes, these can be Logged into the Contact's Note field. The latest version of Agendus (v 8.0) has just been released by Iambic. The major enhancements are:
- abilty to link multiple Contacts (Attendees) to meetings (hmmm. perhaps now Group therapists can use this program!)
- ability to Export the Contact History (useful to keep track of all meetings, todos for your patients)
- Images for your contacts (if you can't remember the Name, now you can have pictures)
- Location field support
- Third party Email and SMS client support

Actually Agendus is almost the perfect Patient tracker (and general PIM program) for me. If Agendus comes up with a special Medical Edition (e.g. with Lab and Drug modules) it would be superb.
Download AgendusPro from Palmgear

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

e-Rx App Gets the Message

MobileHealthData reports:

May 18, 2004 - Clinicians using CarePoint electronic prescription software from New York-based HealthRamp Corp. soon will be able to send prescription information directly to pharmacies via their PDAs. They will be able to do so using their PDAs to access the SureScripts Messenger Services from SureScripts, Alexandria, Va. The technology integration initiative is the result of an agreement announced today between HealthRamp, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ramp Corp., and SureScripts.

The CarePoint software is designed to enable physicians to write prescriptions, as well as access lab orders and results via PDAs running the Palm OS or Windows Mobile operating systems. SureScripts Messenger Services is a network designed to help clinicians electronically transmit refill authorizations, clarifications, new prescriptions and other prescribing transactions to pharmacies across the United States.

The network was founded by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association to establish two-way electronic communication between physicians and pharmacists. More than 50% of retail pharmacies participate in the network.

For more information, go to www.healthramp.com or www.surescripts.com.


All I can say is this all sounds fantastic. Will it appear where I live? Perhaps in the year 2020... :(
MedPDA.net

...where we blend tech and Medicine on the Go....


There's a new place to hang out if you are a Healthcare professional and into PDAs: MedPDA.net. Thanks to lf777 who posted the link in the KVPUG Doctor's Shack.
Looks like a new site with great potential for news and reviews in the PDA world.
Accessing Medical Records on your PDA

MobileHealthData has this story:

May 18, 2004 - Tallahassee (Fla.) Memorial HealthCare will offer its home health clinicians access to electronic medical records software on PDAs. The records software is an application within the integrated clinical and financial systems Tallahassee Memorial recently purchased from Reading, Mass.-based HealthWyse LLC.

Home health clinicians soon will be able to access the records system software on PDAs running the Windows Mobile operating system. The software is designed to help them collect a variety of data from their home-bound patients, such as standard charting information and Outcome and Assessment Information Set, or OASIS, information required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The clinicians will upload the data into the delivery system's information systems twice a day from patient homes via a dial-up modem connection to their PDA. The connection also will enable them to download data on their next scheduled patients from the system to their PDA.

For more information, go to www.healthwyse.com.


It's interesting to see that they are using Dial-up as the means to transfer data. Isn't this rather archaic? This day and age, true mobility means going wireless. I know there aren't many WiFi hotspots out there, but I there is an obvious alternative - physicians upload/download their data via GPRS which is more ubiquitous. The only drawback to the latter is the potentially greater cost, depending on the providers GPRS rates but it certainly beats wires and dependency on phone access.
I personally use a Tungsten T3. This lacks Wifi which I don't find that useful anyway since when I am on the road there isn't any Wifi. I really appreciate the Bluetooth connection to my SonyEricsson t610 phone which connects via GPRS to the Internet. Now that's true mobility.

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

CardioDxTx

Skyscape has released CardioDxTx 7.02:

Description:
Only the essential information needed to diagnose and manage patients with cardiac diseases. Summarizes the diagnosis and treatment of 200 cardiac diseases, each reviewed with discussion of the only the most pertinent information including: differential diagnosis, treatment, and a clinical pearl.

Features

* In-a-nutshell information on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac diseases and disorders
* Quick navigation for easy access
* Covers ambulatory and inpatient medicine
* Includes ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and other common conditions
* A must for medical students, residents, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and general and family practitioners
MercuryMD Adds New Customers

MobileHealthData has the news:

May 17, 2004 - Four provider organizations recently have begun using mobile software from Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based MercuryMD. The providers are using the vendor's MData Enterprise System to offer clinicians access to their clinical information systems on PDAs running the Palm OS or Windows Mobile operating systems.

Some of the organizations also are using the vendor's new MData Desktop and SmartCare applications. MData Desktop is an extension of the MData Enterprise System that enables access to clinical information systems on Tablet PCs. SmartCare is a patient management application designed to assist providers in improving patient outcomes by identifying high-risk populations.

New MercuryMD software customers include: St. Joseph's Hospital, Atlanta; Marietta (Ohio) Memorial Health System; Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington; and The Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha. The vendor now reports 47 customers, representing 123 hospitals nationwide.

For more information, go to www.mercurymd.com.

Saturday, May 15, 2004

BMJ Theme Issue on your PDA


The BMJ has a 2004 theme issue on electronic communication and healthcare.

Dr. Mohammad Al-Ubaydli has converted a Repligo version which you can download for free to view on your PDA if you so choose. The Repligo viewer is free to download and use as well.

Thanks to Ectopic Brain for the headsup.

Going thru this issue, there's an interesting article "Doctors' experience with handheld computers in clinical practice: qualitative study"

The authors cite several categories of users:
- Non-users
- Niche users
- Routine users
- Power users

The power user:

- Constant use characterised by desire to push device to its functional limits; often developed original programs or databases; described frequent upgrades
- All paper: it replaces "everything in my pocket"
- Technophiles, peer champions, active promoters, like to show off latest devices and functions
- "It's my life"; "I've always loved technology and gadgets"

Are you a Power user? I think I am ;)
Digestive System Anatomy Flash Cards

Anatomy students can turn to Medicalwizards for help. They have a bunch of Anatomy Flash Cards. They have recently released Digestive System Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards) 1.0

Application Description:

The Digestive System Flash Cards product uses the time tested content and images from BryanEdwards.com and displays the necessary images to demonstrate the digestive system. This PDA version starts by examining the elementary canal, then leads to the gastrointestinal tract, and finishes with the accessory structures. Substantial text content detailing each image, and a quiz (?) section has been added to aid as a learning tool.

Whether an attending physician using this product to demonstrate anatomical terms to a patient, a medical, dental or nursing student, or undergraduate anatomy student; this product will exceed your expectations and needs.


The other Flash cards in the Medicalwizards library of PDA software include

•Netter's Anatomy Flash Cards
•Cardiovascular Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)
•Urinary Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)
•Bones
•Nervous System Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)
•Head & Neck Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)
•Reproductive Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)
•Endocrine Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)
•Muscles Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)
•Respiratory Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)
•Integument Anatomy Flash Cards (Bryan Edwards)

Both Palm and PPC versions are available. All you need is some $$$ and a LARGE SD card for storing all these fantastic study aids. I wish I had them when I was a medical student!
PDA-based Dosing System Gets FDA Nod

MobileHealthData has the news:

Dimensional Dosing Systems Inc. has announced the Food and Drug Administration has approved its PDA-accessible drug dosage software. The vendor's Intelligent Dosing System incorporates patient-specific dosing data into a proprietary dosage model that then calculates the optimal dose needed to achieve the desired goal.

The system is used for determining optimum dosages of insulin and other drugs as well as combinations of drugs. It is designed to reduce the risk of potentially dangerous side effects.

In a two year study of more that 260 patients through the Grady Health System's Diabetes Clinic, a teaching affiliate of Emory University in Atlanta, the Intelligent Dosing System was loaded on PDAs and given to clinicians for use in adjusting total daily insulin dose. "These analyses suggest the IDS is a useful adjunct for decisions regarding insulin therapy even when using a variety of markers of glucose control, and can be used by practitioners to assist in attainment of glycemic goals," says Curtiss Cook, M.D., the principal investigator in the study. Study results will be published in the June issue of Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics.

For more information, visit www.3ddosing.com.


I suppose now every other PDA app which has drug dosage calculator functions need FDA approval too?

Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Clinical Trial Acronyms

Looking for a PDA resource to search for Clinical Trial Acronyms? Mind boggling isn't it - having to recall what IRIS, ISIS and what not stand for.

Clinical Trial Acronyms has a PDA database which you can purchase for $5 (requires the shareware Celica Database Viewer).
Otherwise if you have a wireless PDA, you could surf over to Clinical Trial Acronyms and search for the Acronym....








Acronym Search


 Exact phrase  All words  Any word


Davis's Drug Guide

Unbound Medicine has released Davis's Drug Guide with AutoUpdates 2.2

Davis's Drug Guide, the best-selling drug reference produced by F.A. Davis, is now delivered via Unbound Medicine's award-winning handheld platform. This comprehensive and up-to-date resource provides need-to-know information on thousand of brand name and generic drugs.
Via Unbound Medicine's CogniQ platform, this leading drug reference will stay up to date simply by synchronizing your handheld. There is no need to download large installer files and re-install the entire application, as is required by other products. Instead, only new or changed medications will be sent to you quarterly, and they will be downloaded automatically the moment they become available!


Good for Unbound Medicine. ePocrates users of course have been doing this for a long time. Now there's Skyscape left to follow suit.
The challenges of PDA adoption

Imagine, giving away PDAs for free to medical students and residents does not guarantee a high percentage of uptake in PDA use amongst clinicians. MobileHealthData has this article:

Nearly thee years ago, Ohio State University Medical Center started handing out PDAs for free to third- and fourth-year medical students and residents. To date, the medical center has distributed about 2,600 devices that clinicians are allowed to keep even if they move on to other provider organizations.

But distributing a large number of PDAs doesn't necessarily equal a successful initiative. Only 10% to 20% of students and residents use their PDAs to download patient data before starting rounds, estimates Andrew Thomas, M.D., medical director. Three-quarters of students and half the residents use the mobile hardware primarily to access drug information and curriculum materials.

Truth be told, most students and residents did not embrace the use of PDAs when the program started, and many still don't, Thomas says. In hindsight, moving too fast may have slowed acceptance, he adds.


I think its the case of technology moving a little too fast for the end user. I am told there were trials in Hong Kong and Singapore which were not very successful for various reasons. Is this the right direction then or are PDAs useful only for a select few geek doctors? I think so. It's the way forward to more efficient use of technology to access information on the go - drug information, laboratory information, patient information and the ultimate goal: use the PDA as part of "e-rounding" and ordering tests and medication. I think the investment would be huge and even vendors are still learning so it'll be some time yet before this takes off.

Which platform to use?


One lesson the school has learned is to standardize PDAs, Skinner says. For the medical center, that means Palm devices, which he contends are far easier to support and easier for novices to learn to use. Standardization also makes it easier to learn to use an upgraded device from the same vendor.


Amen to that ;)

Monday, May 10, 2004

Another Medical Handheld Forum

Apart from KVPUG's Doctors' Shack, there's another Handheld forum from Doc's Board.
I have duly added the link to the others on the left of this blog. Thanks to KVPUG's Beyond for pointing this out.

Great places to go if you wish to discuss Handhelds with others in the medical profession - med students, doctors and other healthcare professionals.

Saturday, May 08, 2004

OncoMd 2004

Skyscape has updated OncoMD for 2004. This is the PDA version of the Physician's Cancer Chemotherapy Drug Manual 2004.

Completely revised and updated for 2004, this practical handbook is an up-to-date guide to all aspects of cancer chemotherapy. This reference provides a comprehensive, easy to use Index of over 100 drugs -- both on- and off-label -- commonly used in cancer treatment. All entries have been updated meticulously as necessary, and this new edition includes five new agents (recently or about to be FDA approved). A section on Common Chemotherapy Regimens provides a quick reference to management of specific cancers, arranged alphabetically. A new section on Principles of Chemotherapy offers a concise update and overview of the field.
Sanford 2004



The Sanford Guide 2004 has been released.
Can't understand why the PDA version ($25) costs more than the Print version ($22.50).
Free iSilo documents from PDACortex

Here are some freebies which may interest you:

FDA CFR Clinical Trials

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)
Code of Federal Regulations
Title 21, Volume 1
Revised as of April 1, 2003
TITLE 21 Part 50, Part 54, Part 56 and Part 312


HIPAA on HAND

HIPAA on HAND contains the Regulation Text Only of the HIPAA Regulations & Standards. And was transcribed from: The Office for Civil Rights website on Medical Privacy - National Standards to Protect the Privacy of Personal Health Information.
HIPAA on Hand is a PDA reference and is intended only as a quick reference guide.

Friday, May 07, 2004

PedsSx

New from Skyscape: PedsSx (The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics, Second Ed)

Now available in PDA format, this practical guide helps clinicians streamline pediatric diagnosis with a comprehensive, integrated, logical approach to analysis of symptoms and signs. Dr. Bellet helps practitioners answer three basic questions: What are the diagnostic possibilities? How can I diagnose each one? What is my approach to this problem?

Users can quickly find a symptom or sign by searching an alphabetical list and get a step-by-step guide to the diagnostic process, including the differential diagnosis. Specific information on each disorder addresses frequency of occurrence, accompanying signs and symptoms, and diagnosis.
Saunder's Pocket Essentials of Clinical Medicine

ClinicalMed (Saunder's Pocket Essentials of Clinical Medicine, 3rd Ed) has been released by Skyscape:

A volume in the well-known Saunders' Pocket Essentials series, the New Edition of this popular handbook is the ideal reference for students throughout their clinical studies. It provides a comprehensive account of general medical problems while facilitating the learning process. This reference includes medical emergency information, offering more information on contraindications; problem-oriented questions with answers; information on practical procedures; a dictionary of terms; abbreviations and normal values; differential diagnosis tables and more.


I am not sure what's the most popular pocketbook of medicine amongst medical students here nowadays. During my time we would be stuffing the quite thick Oxford Handbook of Medicine into our labcoat pockets. Students are so lucky these days. Technology now enables you to put the OHM into your PDA. Franklin has a Mobipocket version of the Oxford Handbook of Medicine. I wonder if Skyscape will consider coming out with their version. Some may prefer the Skyscape interface as I find it's easier to navigate and lookup things using the Skyscape format rather than an e-book format.

Thursday, May 06, 2004

Docs of Uninsured Get Free PDAs

Well, there's a sweet reward for you. MobileHealthData has the news:

May 5, 2004 - Westlake Village, Calif.-based CareDecision Corp. will distribute PDAs equipped with its electronic prescription software to 20,000 physicians who serve uninsured patients. The initiative, with a price tag near $50 million, will be launched in several states later this month.

The program is designed to build and support an electronic network of physicians that treat primarily uninsured patients by enabling them to use CareDecision health care software via PDAs and servers. The vendor's applications include electronic prescribing, medical records, laboratory, scheduling and other software, all of which can be accessed on PDAs.

CareDecision will work with CareGeneration Inc. to distribute the technology. CareGeneration is a division of Kelly Co. World Group Inc., a privately held Delaware-based distribution company.

For more information, go to www.caredecision.net


I wonder if we'll ever see the same thing over here where I live. Like "Public sector doctors get Free PDAs". Hmmm. Not in a million years.

Wednesday, May 05, 2004

FDA Takes a Look at e-Diary Data

MobileHealthData reports:

May 4, 2004 - In recent years, a small but growing number of clinical trials have adopted electronic diaries as the medium for patients to record their daily health status. The trend has not gone unnoticed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency that reviews the efficacy of clinical trials data and is the final arbiter of whether a new drug, biological product or medical device is safe enough to be released to the marketplace.

As a result, the agency has formed a workgroup, in consultation with the industry, to develop guidance on the use of e-diaries to ensure the integrity of data coming from them. No timetable has been set for the release of the guidance. ...


Read the full report here
New Psychiatric Survey

Skyscape Survey Finds Key Psychiatric Reference Use on PDAs Helps Reduce Medical Errors; Respondents Shed Light on Impact of Television and Popular Music on Brain Development:

NEW YORK (APA Annual Meeting, Booth 171) -May 4, 2004-A new survey released today at the American Psychiatric Association’s 157th Annual Meeting shows significant results about psychiatrists’ increasing reliance on their handheld computers (PDAs) and their impact on daily activities. More than
64 percent of the survey respondents use their PDA more than four times a day, with 12 percent using it more than 25 times a day. Some of the most useful PDA references for psychiatrists are gold standard clinical references, such as DSM-IV-TR, drug references and drug interaction guides­with over 71 percent of survey respondents crediting PDAs with
helping them reduce medical errors.

Additionally, 67 percent of respondents indicated that television is leading to increasing acts of violence by youth today; and 54 percent of respondents believe that the way the music industry presents mature pop artists is causing the youth of today to grow up faster than 10 years ago.
More than 40 percent concluded that increased exposure to adult information changes the way the brain develops.

The survey of more than 280 psychiatrists who use handheld computers was conducted by Skyscape®, Inc. (www.skyscape.com)

Tuesday, May 04, 2004

To the point

MobileHealthData has this story about Point of Careware:

May 3, 2004 - Geriatric App Vendor Raises Money

Kirkland, Wash.-based Point of CareWare Inc. has brought its total company capitalization to $6 million after a recent round of venture capital funding. The vendor will use the additional funds to expand sales and marketing efforts as well as develop new software.

Point of CareWare's software is designed to offer clinical data collection and retrieval on PDAs. After it's collected, the data is sent over a secure Internet connection to a Web site hosted by the vendor. Users can access data on their PDAs or PCs via the secure site. The application is designed for assisted living and retirement facilities, many of which haven't automated the collection of resident assessment, scheduling, supply monitoring and other data.
Asthma Revisited

There's a thread going on in KVPUG's Doctors' Shack on asthma.

This reminded me to post that one can use your PDA to help manage asthma - both from the Physician and Patient perspective.

Some Palm software that might be of use to you:

Asthmameister (freeware)

Application Description:
A comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and management of asthma. This e-book designed for the iSilo document reader contains more than 170 pages of information woven together with hyperlinks to make finding the information you need fast and easy. Includes a step-by-step diagnostic algorithm, differential diagnosis, normal peak flow readings, classification of severity, and recommendations for treatment of chronic asthma and asthma exacerbations. Content is based on the NAEPP asthma guidelines and supplemented with an evidence-based review of the asthma-related medical literature from 1998 to the present. An indispensable reference for medical students, interns/residents, and practicing physicians. If you enjoy AsthmaMeister, please visit www.FPPalm.com to check out other free medical applications in the Meister series.



Asthma Manager 1.01
(shareware)

Application Description:
Manage the information your need to manage your asthma.Track your peak flows, asthma episodes, inhaler use and your asthma profile. Create a customised asthma action plan. Easy to use reminders for medication next dose, prescription refills and doctors appointments. Remind yourself of issues to raise at the next visit to your doctor.Also record personal data including insurance infomation, height, weight, immunizations, other medical history, medications ,allergies, emergency and family contacts.Store names, details and contact info on your asthma resources. We have included a page for notes too.The registered version comes with five different color schemes.


Does anyone know of other useful Standalone Palm apps with regard to Asthma?

P.S.
Coincidentally, May 4th is World Asthma Day! This is an event organised by GINA

Saturday, May 01, 2004

Hyperbili

Timothy Allen has released Hyperbili which is I think a useful freebie for you folks in the Paediatric field.



Description:
Hyperbili helps physicians apply the AAP's recomendations for the managment of Neonatal Jaundice.




Now if only some one could come up with an attachment which can convert your PDA into a portable Bilirubin checker, something like Bilicheck. Then you could be truly mobile carrying a device which could check the baby's Bilirubin level and also lookup the AAP recommendation, all in one!

Med Students Should Go Mobile

MobileHealthData reports:

April 30, 2004 - Medical students should be required to routinely use mobile hardware during the course of their studies and internships, according to the April 2004 Mobile Opinions online survey conducted by Mobile Health Data. Eighty-two percent of respondents said using mobile technology should be a mandatory part of medical school curriculums.

Fifteen percent of respondents said medical students should be encouraged--rather than required--to use mobile hardware in their studies or internships. Additionally, 3% said the use of mobile technology in medical schools should not be required or encouraged.


The majority has spoken. So if you are a Med Student and without a PDA, go out and get one. NOW.
Eponyms

Andrew Yee has updated his great freebie, Eponyms.

Eponyms v1.81

Description:
Rovsing's sign? Virchow's node? Here is a list of over 1,500 medical eponyms, common and obscure, with descriptions.

Update Description:
v1.81 (4/30/04):
- Added 15 eponyms since last update, now 1500 eponyms!