Posts tagged app

Medical Apps: Reply

  • Neppto: Which smartphone do you think is the best for clinical stuff?
  • I think that right now from both a quantity and quality standpoint, Apple is still the best platform for medical professionals. It came to the market first and has the most developer support. Android has the largest market share worldwide and that cannot be ignored but the development cycle is fractured because there is such a variety of devices, hardware capabilities and operating system versions. Support for Android will improve over time but those issues will continue to be a barrier to entry for many companies hoping to reach the widest audience.
Before the smartphone industry exploded with the introduction of Apple’s iPhone, the healthcare sector’s premium software found a home on a different breed of devices: your Palms, Blackberries, and Windows Mobiles. The playing field is totally different now. With the entry of Windows Phone 7 and later the Surface line of RT-powered tablets, Microsoft is hoping to win back some of its former glory and dominance. But progress is slow. To this day, medical apps for the healthcare professional is still hard to come by on the marketplace. Nonetheless, they are there and they are coming, albeit slowly. Here are twenty suggestions: Laboratory Pocket Lab Values: This app includes more than 320 lab values. It includes a differential diagnoses for the lab findings as well as websites for each lab value. In addition, there is a note taking feature to add additional information. Calculator MedCalc3000: This app includes over 550 medical equations, clinical criterias, decision tree tools and dose/unit converters. It caters to a wide variety of topics and a wide range of health professionals. There are more specific apps included in this family, including the cardiac, pulmonary etc. Otherwise, there is a Complete edition that is available. Pharmaceutical Micromedex Drug Information (Tablet): An evidence-based drug information app like its counterparts on Android and iOS, this app is tailored for the Windows RT tablet. Unfortunately at this time, no phone version is available. MPR: Monthly Prescribing Reference provides prescription and over the counter drug information, side effects and interactions. The information here is not as in depth as most but does offer a large database of monographs and serves as a decent drug reference on your phone. Epocrates (Pinned): At this time, Epocrates is not available as a dedicated app. However, you can still create access to the same resources by pinning the Epocrates website (https://online.epocrates.com) onto your home screen. While it is not perfect, it is a start. Anatomy Miniatlas Anatomy: This app contains illustrations and explanations  around various body parts. It serves as an interactive reference and education tool. Tools Dropbox: A cloud-based service that offers an opportunity to store algorithms, guidelines, or textbooks that you can access anywhere. Now available on your phone or tablet. Evernote: A note-taking tool to keep and sort out clinical pearls or to document clinical moments. Flashlight: For the times on call where we do not want to disturb other patients in a dark room as we make our way around. Translate This: This could be the only tool to help you in a situation where there is a language barrier and no one to translate. Clinical UpToDate (Tablet): This product really needs no introduction as it is a household name for most clinicians. Having said that, it is not a house brand across all of Windows’ products. This is currently only available on the RT tablets but plans are underway to port it to the phone in the near future. AHRQ ePSS (Tablet): Also available in other devices, the Electronic Preventive Services Selector was developed to assist primary clinicians identify the screening, counselling, and preventive medication services that are appropriate for their patients. This is again only available on RT tablets. Medscape (Pinned): Like Epocrates, this is currently not available by traditional means. However, by pinning the webpage onto your homepage, you can have a reasonable alternative that serves the same purpose, so long as you have an internet connection. Merck Manual: A digital, pocket version of the original reference. Disease states can be searched by section or by symptom. This package integrates expert descriptions of diagnosis and management of diseases with an A to Z symptoms guide and an award-winning drug guide. Diagnosaurus: A differential diagnosis generator that works around your working diagnosis or the symptoms you see. Pediatric Care Online: This subscription based app offers a comprehensive source for paediatric patients. It has disease and symptom references, a paediatric drug guideline and other guidelines involving management. Medline Plus: This is the National Institutes of Health’s web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. Review Medical Mnemonics: This app includes over 1400 acronyms, rhymes and memory tricks on a wide variety of topics. It makes it convenient to search through with filters by discipline and system. You also have the option to add your own mnemonics to the app. USMLE: A flashcard bank of questions in preparation of the USMLE Step 1 including topics around anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology and behavioral sciences.  MCAT Exam Review: A flashcard bank of questions in preparation of the MCAT.  The market is still growing for Windows phones and tablets. Hopefully as time goes on, more medical apps will become available. For now, this is a good starting place. What apps do you use?

Before the smartphone industry exploded with the introduction of Apple’s iPhone, the healthcare sector’s premium software found a home on a different breed of devices: your Palms, Blackberries, and Windows Mobiles.

The playing field is totally different now. With the entry of Windows Phone 7 and later the Surface line of RT-powered tablets, Microsoft is hoping to win back some of its former glory and dominance. But progress is slow. To this day, medical apps for the healthcare professional is still hard to come by on the marketplace. Nonetheless, they are there and they are coming, albeit slowly. Here are twenty suggestions:

Laboratory

  • Pocket Lab Values: This app includes more than 320 lab values. It includes a differential diagnoses for the lab findings as well as websites for each lab value. In addition, there is a note taking feature to add additional information.

Calculator

  • MedCalc3000: This app includes over 550 medical equations, clinical criterias, decision tree tools and dose/unit converters. It caters to a wide variety of topics and a wide range of health professionals. There are more specific apps included in this family, including the cardiac, pulmonary etc. Otherwise, there is a Complete edition that is available.

Pharmaceutical

  • Micromedex Drug Information (Tablet): An evidence-based drug information app like its counterparts on Android and iOS, this app is tailored for the Windows RT tablet. Unfortunately at this time, no phone version is available.
  • MPR: Monthly Prescribing Reference provides prescription and over the counter drug information, side effects and interactions. The information here is not as in depth as most but does offer a large database of monographs and serves as a decent drug reference on your phone.
  • Epocrates (Pinned): At this time, Epocrates is not available as a dedicated app. However, you can still create access to the same resources by pinning the Epocrates website (https://online.epocrates.com) onto your home screen. While it is not perfect, it is a start.

Anatomy

  • Miniatlas Anatomy: This app contains illustrations and explanations  around various body parts. It serves as an interactive reference and education tool.

Tools

  • Dropbox: A cloud-based service that offers an opportunity to store algorithms, guidelines, or textbooks that you can access anywhere. Now available on your phone or tablet.
  • Evernote: A note-taking tool to keep and sort out clinical pearls or to document clinical moments.
  • Flashlight: For the times on call where we do not want to disturb other patients in a dark room as we make our way around.
  • Translate This: This could be the only tool to help you in a situation where there is a language barrier and no one to translate.

Clinical

  • UpToDate (Tablet): This product really needs no introduction as it is a household name for most clinicians. Having said that, it is not a house brand across all of Windows’ products. This is currently only available on the RT tablets but plans are underway to port it to the phone in the near future.
  • AHRQ ePSS (Tablet): Also available in other devices, the Electronic Preventive Services Selector was developed to assist primary clinicians identify the screening, counselling, and preventive medication services that are appropriate for their patients. This is again only available on RT tablets.
  • Medscape (Pinned): Like Epocrates, this is currently not available by traditional means. However, by pinning the webpage onto your homepage, you can have a reasonable alternative that serves the same purpose, so long as you have an internet connection.
  • Merck Manual: A digital, pocket version of the original reference. Disease states can be searched by section or by symptom. This package integrates expert descriptions of diagnosis and management of diseases with an A to Z symptoms guide and an award-winning drug guide.
  • Diagnosaurus: A differential diagnosis generator that works around your working diagnosis or the symptoms you see.
  • Pediatric Care Online: This subscription based app offers a comprehensive source for paediatric patients. It has disease and symptom references, a paediatric drug guideline and other guidelines involving management.
  • Medline Plus: This is the National Institutes of Health’s web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand.

Review

  • Medical Mnemonics: This app includes over 1400 acronyms, rhymes and memory tricks on a wide variety of topics. It makes it convenient to search through with filters by discipline and system. You also have the option to add your own mnemonics to the app.
  • USMLE: A flashcard bank of questions in preparation of the USMLE Step 1 including topics around anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology and behavioral sciences. 
  • MCAT Exam Review: A flashcard bank of questions in preparation of the MCAT. 

The market is still growing for Windows phones and tablets. Hopefully as time goes on, more medical apps will become available. For now, this is a good starting place. What apps do you use?

While Apple may have changed the way we think about smartphones and tablet computing, pioneering the way for a new industry of app design, they are not alone in this market. Following yesterday’s list, here are some resources that are available for your Android. Note that many developers have submitted apps to both marketplaces so there is overlap. Laboratory Normal Lab Values: Quick access to the most common laboratory values. There may only be 150 available when you install it but you have the option to add new categories and new lab values. Acid Plus: A calculator tool that helps tease out the type of acidotic or alkalotic process involved. Calculators BiliCalc: Like BiliTool, this tool helps calculate bilirubin levels in neonates and gives recommendations based on the risk stratification of jaundice. Mediquations Med Calculator: A premium calculator that has a more streamlined design and more comprehensive formulas than Qx Calculate.  Qx Calculate: A free calculator for many of the formulas and algorithms in medicine including risk calculators and unit conversions. Pharmaceutical Lexicomp: The standard for monograph information, this subscription-based app includes routine updates to the drug database for newly added medications and warnings. It includes a drug interactions calculator. Epocrates: For the free alternative, Epocrates continues to be a favorite among my classmates and attendings. It includes the standard dosing and regimens for medications but offers less detailed information regarding them compared to Lexicomp. Micromedex: Another decent alternative that is updated regularly with the most recent warnings and medications. There is a basic free form with premium add-ons including the drug interactions tool. Skyscape RxDrugs: Like the others, this app provides dosing guidelines on thousands of commonly used drugs. It includes nearly 400 integrated weight-based drug dosing calculators.  Anatomy Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy: While it certainly is not cheap, it is Netter. All of his anatomical plates have been compiled into this app for easy reviewing and learning. Visual Anatomy: This app takes the Gray’s Anatomy approach and integrates many of the illustrations from Gray’s and supplements it with 3D models. Clinical Medscape: A basic app that includes drug interaction calculator, a procedures reference and daily news in the world of medicine. Skyscape: A free app that includes a number of resources to help with clinical decision making. Designed to be a one-stop shop, you can purchase and subscribe to more features and resources within depending on your needs. PEPID: A clinical companion tool that provides summary information around conditions, include a brief explanation of the condition, the investigations, differential, and the treatment plan. Written in a concise form for the learner on the go. UpToDate: The clinical companion tool that is a favourite among the attendings. This subscription-based app comes in both an online or offline version and mirrors the desktop counterpart. Including in-depth review of disease states and clinical pearls surrounding therapy. Medicine Central: This is an integrated mobile and web reference built specifically for physicians, students, residents, and nurse practitioners. Medicine Central brings you comprehensive point-of-care content on the essentials of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for over 700 diseases and disorders in a quick-read format. Merck Manual Suite: A digital, pocket version of the original reference. Disease states can be searched by section or by symptom. This package integrates expert descriptions of diagnosis and management of diseases with an A to Z symptoms guide and an award-winning drug guide. Eponym: For the medical student, half the battle is learning the language of medicine. Eponyms explains the common and obscure terms and signs of medicine named after their discoverers. DxSaurus: A differential diagnosis generator that works around your working diagnosis or the symptoms you see. Bugs and Drugs: A reference tool for antimicrobial therapy, the dosing guidelines and the sensitivity tables of all antibiotics. Oxford Medical Dictionary: Includes definitions for nearly 10,000 terms used in modern medicine.  Tools Google Translate: This could be the only tool to help you in a situation where there is a language barrier and no one to translate. Flashlight: For the times on call where we do not want to disturb other patients in a dark room as we make our way around. Evernote: A note-taking tool to keep and sort out clinical pearls or to document clinical moments. Drive/Dropbox: A cloud-based service like Drive or Dropbox offers an opportunity to store algorithms, guidelines, or textbooks that you can access anywhere. Now available on your phone or tablet. Review EKGdroid: A simple arrhythmia guide, it explains each component of the EKG and the arrhythmia patterns. Medical Mnemonics: If you learn best with mnemonics, this may be the app for you. Medical Mnemonics puts over 1500 clever acronyms, rhymes, and memory tricks on your Android, on topics ranging from Anatomy and Biochemistry to Pharmacology and Surgery. MCAT Prep Chem: For the pre-med student who wants to study on the go, this app covers all of the aspects of MCAT prep for general and organic chemistry. All the content is arranged by topic and category for easy navigation. MCAT Prep Bio:For the pre-med student who wants to study on the go, this app covers all of the aspects of MCAT prep for general, molecular biology, genetics etc. All the content is arranged by topic and category for easy navigation. USMLE World QBank: For the medical student preparing for exams, the QBank is an important resource to have. This list is by no means exhaustive but is a good starting point for readers out there interested in finding medical apps. What apps do you use?

While Apple may have changed the way we think about smartphones and tablet computing, pioneering the way for a new industry of app design, they are not alone in this market. Following yesterday’s list, here are some resources that are available for your Android. Note that many developers have submitted apps to both marketplaces so there is overlap.

Laboratory

  • Normal Lab Values: Quick access to the most common laboratory values. There may only be 150 available when you install it but you have the option to add new categories and new lab values.
  • Acid Plus: A calculator tool that helps tease out the type of acidotic or alkalotic process involved.

Calculators

  • BiliCalc: Like BiliTool, this tool helps calculate bilirubin levels in neonates and gives recommendations based on the risk stratification of jaundice.
  • Mediquations Med Calculator: A premium calculator that has a more streamlined design and more comprehensive formulas than Qx Calculate. 
  • Qx Calculate: A free calculator for many of the formulas and algorithms in medicine including risk calculators and unit conversions.

Pharmaceutical

  • Lexicomp: The standard for monograph information, this subscription-based app includes routine updates to the drug database for newly added medications and warnings. It includes a drug interactions calculator.
  • Epocrates: For the free alternative, Epocrates continues to be a favorite among my classmates and attendings. It includes the standard dosing and regimens for medications but offers less detailed information regarding them compared to Lexicomp.
  • Micromedex: Another decent alternative that is updated regularly with the most recent warnings and medications. There is a basic free form with premium add-ons including the drug interactions tool.
  • Skyscape RxDrugs: Like the others, this app provides dosing guidelines on thousands of commonly used drugs. It includes nearly 400 integrated weight-based drug dosing calculators. 

Anatomy

  • Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy: While it certainly is not cheap, it is Netter. All of his anatomical plates have been compiled into this app for easy reviewing and learning.
  • Visual Anatomy: This app takes the Gray’s Anatomy approach and integrates many of the illustrations from Gray’s and supplements it with 3D models.

Clinical

  • Medscape: A basic app that includes drug interaction calculator, a procedures reference and daily news in the world of medicine.
  • Skyscape: A free app that includes a number of resources to help with clinical decision making. Designed to be a one-stop shop, you can purchase and subscribe to more features and resources within depending on your needs.
  • PEPID: A clinical companion tool that provides summary information around conditions, include a brief explanation of the condition, the investigations, differential, and the treatment plan. Written in a concise form for the learner on the go.
  • UpToDate: The clinical companion tool that is a favourite among the attendings. This subscription-based app comes in both an online or offline version and mirrors the desktop counterpart. Including in-depth review of disease states and clinical pearls surrounding therapy.
  • Medicine Central: This is an integrated mobile and web reference built specifically for physicians, students, residents, and nurse practitioners. Medicine Central brings you comprehensive point-of-care content on the essentials of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for over 700 diseases and disorders in a quick-read format.
  • Merck Manual Suite: A digital, pocket version of the original reference. Disease states can be searched by section or by symptom. This package integrates expert descriptions of diagnosis and management of diseases with an A to Z symptoms guide and an award-winning drug guide.
  • Eponym: For the medical student, half the battle is learning the language of medicine. Eponyms explains the common and obscure terms and signs of medicine named after their discoverers.
  • DxSaurus: A differential diagnosis generator that works around your working diagnosis or the symptoms you see.
  • Bugs and Drugs: A reference tool for antimicrobial therapy, the dosing guidelines and the sensitivity tables of all antibiotics.
  • Oxford Medical Dictionary: Includes definitions for nearly 10,000 terms used in modern medicine. 

Tools

  • Google Translate: This could be the only tool to help you in a situation where there is a language barrier and no one to translate.
  • Flashlight: For the times on call where we do not want to disturb other patients in a dark room as we make our way around.
  • Evernote: A note-taking tool to keep and sort out clinical pearls or to document clinical moments.
  • Drive/Dropbox: A cloud-based service like Drive or Dropbox offers an opportunity to store algorithms, guidelines, or textbooks that you can access anywhere. Now available on your phone or tablet.

Review

  • EKGdroid: A simple arrhythmia guide, it explains each component of the EKG and the arrhythmia patterns.
  • Medical Mnemonics: If you learn best with mnemonics, this may be the app for you. Medical Mnemonics puts over 1500 clever acronyms, rhymes, and memory tricks on your Android, on topics ranging from Anatomy and Biochemistry to Pharmacology and Surgery.
  • MCAT Prep Chem: For the pre-med student who wants to study on the go, this app covers all of the aspects of MCAT prep for general and organic chemistry. All the content is arranged by topic and category for easy navigation.
  • MCAT Prep Bio:For the pre-med student who wants to study on the go, this app covers all of the aspects of MCAT prep for general, molecular biology, genetics etc. All the content is arranged by topic and category for easy navigation.
  • USMLE World QBank: For the medical student preparing for exams, the QBank is an important resource to have.

This list is by no means exhaustive but is a good starting point for readers out there interested in finding medical apps. What apps do you use?

As the popularity of smartphone of tablet computing expands, so too does the library of apps. The following is a list of iOS apps that might be of interest or use for the curious, for the learners, and for the clerks. Laboratory LabDx: A reference tool for common laboratory investigations. Acid Plus: A calculator tool that helps tease out the type of acidotic or alkalotic process involved. Lytes: A basic reference to the common electrolyte abnormalities, the causes, signs, and symptoms. Calculators BiliTool: An online tool that has an optimized mobile format, this tool helps calculate bilirubin levels in neonates and gives recommendations based on the risk stratification of jaundice. Qx Calculate: A free calculator for many of the formulas and algorithms in medicine including risk calculators and unit conversions. MedCalc Pro: A premium calculator that has a more streamlined design and more formulas than Qx Calculate. It also allows you to save patient values for use in multiple calculations. Pharmaceutical Lexicomp: The standard for monograph information, this subscription-based app includes routine updates to the drug database for newly added medications and warnings. It includes a drug interactions calculator. Epocrates: For the free alternative, Epocrates continues to be a favorite among my classmates and attendings. It includes the standard dosing and regimens for medications but offers less detailed information regarding them compared to Lexicomp. Micromedex: Another decent alternative that is updated regularly with the most recent warnings and medications. There is a basic free form with premium add-ons including the drug interactions tool. Anatomy Netter’s Anatomy Atlas: Netter is a household name in the world of medical illustrations and all of his anatomical plates have been compiled in this app. A good quick reference of study tool. Pocket Anatomy/Essential Anatomy: Moving into the third dimension, these two apps despite a premium price, a useful study tool for anyone interested in medicine. Muscle System Pro III: For the anatomical enthusiast wishing to see muscles in all their detail and intricacies. Premium. Skeleton System Pro III: For the anatomical enthusiast wishing to see bones in all their detail and intricacies. Premium. Brain and Nervous System Pro III: For the anatomical enthusiast wishing to see nerves in all their detail and intricacies. Premium. Radiology Radiology 2.0: One Night in the ED: A case-based radiological app that goes through the common presentations with a methodical approach. Clinical Medscape: A basic app that includes drug interaction calculator, a procedures reference and daily news in the world of medicine. Skyscape: A free app that includes a number of resources to help with clinical decision making. Designed to be a one-stop shop, you can purchase and subscribe to more features and resources within depending on your needs. Eponyms: For the medical student, half the battle is learning the language of medicine. Eponyms explains the common and obscure terms and signs of medicine named after their discoverers.  Bugs and Drugs: A reference tool for antimicrobial therapy, the dosing guidelines and the sensitivity tables of all antibiotics. PEPID: A clinical companion tool that provides summary information around conditions, include a brief explanation of the condition, the investigations, differential, and the treatment plan. Written in a concise form for the learner on the go. UpToDate: The clinical companion tool that is a favourite among the attendings. This subscription-based app comes in both an online or offline version and mirrors the desktop counterpart. Including in-depth review of disease states and clinical pearls surrounding therapy. DxSaurus: A differential diagnosis generator that works around your working diagnosis or the symptoms you see. Reference The Merck Manual: Professional Edition: A digital, pocket version of the original reference. Disease states can be searched by section or by symptom. Toronto Notes 2012: While not exactly an app, this textbook is an excellent reference for any medical student and is one that I read during quiet moments on shift. A digital copy of this textbook stays with me in my eBooks library. Principles and Practice of Hospital Medicine: This is also not an app but an eBook. An excellent reference for internal medicine, it offers great deal of information and clinical pearls for the hospitalist.  Tools Google Translate: For the moments where language is a barrier, this could be the only useful way to gather patient information. Flashlight: For the times on call where we do not want to disturb other patients in a dark room as we make our way around. Evernote: A note-taking tool to keep and sort out clinical pearls or to document clinical moments. Drive/Dropbox: A cloud-based service like Drive or Dropbox offers an opportunity to store algorithms, guidelines, or textbooks that you can access anywhere. Now available on your phone or tablet. Review USMLE World QBank: For the medical student preparing for exams, the QBank is an important resource to have. This list is by no means exhaustive but is a good starting point for readers out there interested in finding medical apps. What apps do you use?

As the popularity of smartphone of tablet computing expands, so too does the library of apps. The following is a list of iOS apps that might be of interest or use for the curious, for the learners, and for the clerks.

Laboratory

  • LabDx: A reference tool for common laboratory investigations.
  • Acid Plus: A calculator tool that helps tease out the type of acidotic or alkalotic process involved.
  • Lytes: A basic reference to the common electrolyte abnormalities, the causes, signs, and symptoms.

Calculators

  • BiliTool: An online tool that has an optimized mobile format, this tool helps calculate bilirubin levels in neonates and gives recommendations based on the risk stratification of jaundice.
  • Qx Calculate: A free calculator for many of the formulas and algorithms in medicine including risk calculators and unit conversions.
  • MedCalc Pro: A premium calculator that has a more streamlined design and more formulas than Qx Calculate. It also allows you to save patient values for use in multiple calculations.

Pharmaceutical

  • Lexicomp: The standard for monograph information, this subscription-based app includes routine updates to the drug database for newly added medications and warnings. It includes a drug interactions calculator.
  • Epocrates: For the free alternative, Epocrates continues to be a favorite among my classmates and attendings. It includes the standard dosing and regimens for medications but offers less detailed information regarding them compared to Lexicomp.
  • Micromedex: Another decent alternative that is updated regularly with the most recent warnings and medications. There is a basic free form with premium add-ons including the drug interactions tool.

Anatomy

  • Netter’s Anatomy Atlas: Netter is a household name in the world of medical illustrations and all of his anatomical plates have been compiled in this app. A good quick reference of study tool.
  • Pocket Anatomy/Essential Anatomy: Moving into the third dimension, these two apps despite a premium price, a useful study tool for anyone interested in medicine.
  • Muscle System Pro III: For the anatomical enthusiast wishing to see muscles in all their detail and intricacies. Premium.
  • Skeleton System Pro III: For the anatomical enthusiast wishing to see bones in all their detail and intricacies. Premium.
  • Brain and Nervous System Pro III: For the anatomical enthusiast wishing to see nerves in all their detail and intricacies. Premium.

Radiology

  • Radiology 2.0: One Night in the ED: A case-based radiological app that goes through the common presentations with a methodical approach.

Clinical

  • Medscape: A basic app that includes drug interaction calculator, a procedures reference and daily news in the world of medicine.
  • Skyscape: A free app that includes a number of resources to help with clinical decision making. Designed to be a one-stop shop, you can purchase and subscribe to more features and resources within depending on your needs.
  • Eponyms: For the medical student, half the battle is learning the language of medicine. Eponyms explains the common and obscure terms and signs of medicine named after their discoverers. 
  • Bugs and Drugs: A reference tool for antimicrobial therapy, the dosing guidelines and the sensitivity tables of all antibiotics.
  • PEPID: A clinical companion tool that provides summary information around conditions, include a brief explanation of the condition, the investigations, differential, and the treatment plan. Written in a concise form for the learner on the go.
  • UpToDate: The clinical companion tool that is a favourite among the attendings. This subscription-based app comes in both an online or offline version and mirrors the desktop counterpart. Including in-depth review of disease states and clinical pearls surrounding therapy.
  • DxSaurus: A differential diagnosis generator that works around your working diagnosis or the symptoms you see.

Reference

  • The Merck Manual: Professional Edition: A digital, pocket version of the original reference. Disease states can be searched by section or by symptom.
  • Toronto Notes 2012: While not exactly an app, this textbook is an excellent reference for any medical student and is one that I read during quiet moments on shift. A digital copy of this textbook stays with me in my eBooks library.
  • Principles and Practice of Hospital Medicine: This is also not an app but an eBook. An excellent reference for internal medicine, it offers great deal of information and clinical pearls for the hospitalist. 

Tools

  • Google Translate: For the moments where language is a barrier, this could be the only useful way to gather patient information.
  • Flashlight: For the times on call where we do not want to disturb other patients in a dark room as we make our way around.
  • Evernote: A note-taking tool to keep and sort out clinical pearls or to document clinical moments.
  • Drive/Dropbox: A cloud-based service like Drive or Dropbox offers an opportunity to store algorithms, guidelines, or textbooks that you can access anywhere. Now available on your phone or tablet.

Review

  • USMLE World QBank: For the medical student preparing for exams, the QBank is an important resource to have.

This list is by no means exhaustive but is a good starting point for readers out there interested in finding medical apps. What apps do you use?

Using Evernote. I have received a lot of questions about what program I am using to organize my notes. It is called Evernote and it is still something I am experimenting with but I am quite pleased with the results thus far. What appeals to me most about it at this point is the ability to edit and sync my notes on my computer to my phone so that I always have all of my notes with me anywhere without the hassle of notebooks and paper. That, along with a fast and responsive engine for tagging and searching makes organizing and finding my notes a lot less time consuming. As one reader was asking, it does support document and image attachments as well as recorded audio clips (that have thus far not been very useful to me). However, I do insert inlayed images often for diagrammatic purposes.  At this time, it is definitely a much more tedious operation to convert readings and clinical pearls to digital notes when I come home but over the long term, I think they will be more useful.

Using Evernote.

I have received a lot of questions about what program I am using to organize my notes. It is called Evernote and it is still something I am experimenting with but I am quite pleased with the results thus far.

What appeals to me most about it at this point is the ability to edit and sync my notes on my computer to my phone so that I always have all of my notes with me anywhere without the hassle of notebooks and paper. That, along with a fast and responsive engine for tagging and searching makes organizing and finding my notes a lot less time consuming.

As one reader was asking, it does support document and image attachments as well as recorded audio clips (that have thus far not been very useful to me). However, I do insert inlayed images often for diagrammatic purposes. 

At this time, it is definitely a much more tedious operation to convert readings and clinical pearls to digital notes when I come home but over the long term, I think they will be more useful.

Any suggestions for android apps? Either studying MCAT or beyond? — Asked by gatewaysparadise

I do not have an Android device so I could not comment on this. I did look around and asked a friend who does. His personal recommendations sound very similar to mine, I will simply list them here. Note that these are more clinically useful once you are in medicine:

  • Skyscape
  • UpToDate
  • LexiComp
  • PEPID
  • Medscape
  • Epocrates
  • Evernote
  • QxMD Calculate
  • Eponym
  • Oxford Medical Dictionary

Unfortunately the mantra that “there is an app for everything” does not really hold true for many situations, such as the MCAT. Your best tool there is to buy a review book, do practice exams or to take an MCAT preparation course.

If you are a medical student using an Android device, leave your recommendations below in the comments.

11 Apps for the Medical Student

The recent rise of smartphones and tablets has opened up the doors for new ways we can use technology in our day-to-day lives. From reading news to playing games, it seems that we suddenly have a lot more options and a lot more flexibility.

Medicine has leveraged these advances to make tools and utilities that can take advantage of the new market, where a computer and more importantly the software that is on it has become portable.

Nearing the start of my clinical years, I present to you my list of phone and tablet apps that I currently use or have used in the past that I feel will continue to be useful for any medical student.

Disclaimer: The following apps are all available for iOS. Availability online, on Android, Blackberry, or any other operating system may vary depending on the author of the respective programs.

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