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It is electronic age whether we like it or not. The amount of
information available through internet to both doctors and patients is
phenomenal. I have two handheld devices, one operates on palm and the
other window CE.
There are hosts of medical information that I carry around on these
devices that simply will be impossible to carry in paper form. These are
mainly reference books such as, Harrison Handbook of medicine, clinical
evidence, A-Z drug information, pocket doctor through Avantgo, other
journals downloads through Highwire and other software to calculate body
mass index (BMI), peak flow rate (PFR) and etc.
The scope for use of handheld is extensive and because of their size they
are much easier to carry around than laptops. Back up of data is very
important and limitation to their use depends on attitudes to use of
computers or electronic devices in general.
There are many options, (such as bluetooth/WiFi/Infrared support), around
most devices to cater for different uses and preferences. Prices are no
longer a barrier and most devices have expansion slots to increase their
size; I have 256MB card on top of the standard 64 that came with my Pocket
PC.
Most of my patients are quite intrigued when I pick it up to use
information on it as reference. You can navigate through it quite easily.
Handheld are use widely in the States both by practising physicians and
medical students. I believe with time these devices are going to have more
common use in general practice as the "new breed" of doctors join the GP
market.
Handheld Computer in Clinical Practice
It is electronic age whether we like it or not. The amount of
information available through internet to both doctors and patients is
phenomenal. I have two handheld devices, one operates on palm and the
other window CE.
There are hosts of medical information that I carry around on these
devices that simply will be impossible to carry in paper form. These are
mainly reference books such as, Harrison Handbook of medicine, clinical
evidence, A-Z drug information, pocket doctor through Avantgo, other
journals downloads through Highwire and other software to calculate body
mass index (BMI), peak flow rate (PFR) and etc.
The scope for use of handheld is extensive and because of their size they
are much easier to carry around than laptops. Back up of data is very
important and limitation to their use depends on attitudes to use of
computers or electronic devices in general.
There are many options, (such as bluetooth/WiFi/Infrared support), around
most devices to cater for different uses and preferences. Prices are no
longer a barrier and most devices have expansion slots to increase their
size; I have 256MB card on top of the standard 64 that came with my Pocket
PC.
Most of my patients are quite intrigued when I pick it up to use
information on it as reference. You can navigate through it quite easily.
Handheld are use widely in the States both by practising physicians and
medical students. I believe with time these devices are going to have more
common use in general practice as the "new breed" of doctors join the GP
market.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests