What are the most useful iPhone apps for a newly qualified doctor?

October 13, 2009 5:49 AM

What are the most useful iPhone apps for a newly qualified doctor?

I will be starting my housemanship/internship next week and would like to have some easy to reach reference material to carry around on ward rounds, on calls etc.
I would also appreciate non-medically related app suggestions that people find useful for work.
Thanks in advance!

posted by ianK to technology (13 comments total)

Start with EverNote, which is a great note-taking application.
posted by mephron at 6:15 AM on October 13 [1 favorite]

Here you go.
posted by hought20 at 6:17 AM on October 13 [1 favorite]

I also highly recommend stopping by your local medical library, if you have one. The librarians will know the best apps. I imagine some of the databases your library has access to will also be accessible by iPhone, perhaps in a useful form.
posted by hought20 at 6:19 AM on October 13 [1 favorite]

Epocrates has been around for years on various platforms and comes highly recommended. ICD-9 and ICD-9 PCP may be useful if you find yourself looking up ICD codes.
posted by jedicus at 6:36 AM on October 13

If you are using it for taking notes about identifiable patient data, remember that their are federal laws (HIPAA, etc.) as well as institutional guidelines for how this information is stored. Tread carefully.
posted by nestor_makhno at 6:45 AM on October 13

Here is a fairly good collection of what is available. Doesn't really answer which are the best, but a good overview is always a good place to start.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:06 AM on October 13

And, with added review goodness.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:07 AM on October 13

Drug software is still the killer medical app for PDAs/smartphones. As mentioned, Epocrates (the basic version is still free), also Lexi-Comp is quite nice; here's info on their overseas distributors. (Check with the library or IS/IT department of your teaching hospital--I'm assuming that there's some sort of UK equivalent--to see if they have PDA software as part of their institutional subscriptions to medical databases; we do.)

HIPAA is an American law; again, check with your IS department to see if there are corresponding UK laws regarding medical records.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:16 AM on October 13

hospital rn here
I like a good note app too (like EverNote mentioned above) for listing hospital phone extensions and doctor pgr numbers.

iTranslate is wonderful for single word translations while I'm waiting for the translator to arrive. Patients seems to appreciate it too when I can ask them "Nausea?" in their own language to which they nod yes or no and I can get them something to prevent them from throwing up right now instead of after the fact. I just show the patients the screen instead of butchering pronunciation.

Just for fun I like having Lightsaber for an easy goofy laugh whenever anyone asks me something along the lines of "...is that thing really useful..." which prompts me to take my best jedi stance as i whip out my light saber and say: "very useful indeed..." in most mock serious starwars geekery.

One of the fellows at work uses the magic eight ball app the same way but I find some of the answers can be a little dark and kill the joke.

GoogleEarth is also fun. People always like looking at their house on it.

Congrats on the new position!
posted by dog food sugar at 7:30 AM on October 13

Thank you so much for asking this question. (dog food sugar, it didn't occur to me to use EverNote for house extensions and so forth - what a great idea.)

I'm a (relatively) new RN, and work on a cardiac stepdown floor. Thus far, my favourite apps are:

Epocrates - medical news, IV compatibility, pill identification, and med calculations. (You might also be interested in looking at the Skyscape suite as well.)

Medscape - duplicates much of what Epocrates offers, but adds free CEUs.

Instant ECG (I particularly love this one) - the animated strips are fabulous!

iMurmur - neat, if you're into that sort of thing. I'm into that sort of thing.

Pocket Heart - a simple but useful teaching tool for our pre-CABG and valve replacement patients.

ACLS Wiz - helps me stay on my toes between certifications.

I've had my iPhone for a short period of time, but am amazed at how useful it can be as a clinical tool - I hope you find it so as well. (And seconding the congrats!)

posted by arachnid at 9:34 AM on October 13 [1 favorite]

Thanks for all the great responses and kind words, guys.
I have been bumming around at home for the past 3 months and a little rusty, so I am a little anxious about getting all the help I can get!
posted by ianK at 8:12 PM on October 13

try QuantiaMD a physician community with a number of active communities by specialty and viewable CME segments.

QuantiaMD
posted by revan at 11:40 AM on October 14

Here are some great ones
posted by bravowhiskey at 12:48 PM on October 15