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PDA's in Health Care

Getting Started

The 1990s saw the birth of the handheld computing device. There are about 20 terms for these devices such as Palms, Palm pilots, Pocket PC, etc. as well as specific device names such as TRGpro. Two distinct operating systems dominate the market: Windows Mobile OS(formerly Pocket PC), a Windows like OS and Palm OS. Two other operating systems, Symbian and Linux, are less visible in the market. Palm OS devices are generally faster and cheaper and have more software available. Windows Mobile OS offers high color resolution, multimedia support and compatibility with Windows software. Fewer programs are available for Windows Mobile operating systems. See the Reviews and Comparisons page for information on selecting hardware and software. Many websites offer overviews of the world of handheld computing and tutorials on getting started with your machine. Several useful ones are listed below.

Ectopic Brain: Provides links to many sites giving introductions and basic information. Produced by Kent E. Willyard, M.D.
pdaMD.com: In the Learning Center on this site are many tutorials on a variety of tasks associated with selecting, owning and using a handheld computer.
Guide to Handheld and Palmtop Computing Resources for Health Care Professionals: Online textbook. Can be downloaded or purchased in hard copy for a fee.

Downloads at MUSC

AccessMedicine: Downloads require personal registration. Choose "My saved images, PDA downloads" from the top of the screen. Downloads available for Palm OS or PocketPC PDAs and Windows OS computers.
Essential Evidence Plus (formerly InfoPoems): Choose the Downloads tab from the left side of the screen.
MicroMedex: Healthcare Series: Click the Handheld PDA tab at the top of the screen.
POCKETConsult (MDConsult): From MDConsult. Must register for personal account and a PDA account. Advanced POCKETConsult features require a Windows-based computer.
MD on Tap (National Library of Medicine, Communications Engineering Branch): An application to retrieve Medline® citations directly from the PDA through a wireless connection to the Internet.
AIDSinfo's PDA Tools: Includes Antiretroviral Toxicity Tool for Pocket PCs,Guidelines and HIV/AIDS Glossary
PubMed for Handhelds: PDA Users can search PubMed via this URL.
Handheld computer resources in the NCBI Bookshelf
WebWiser (National Library of Medicine): Choose the Wiser home page from the text.
CHORUS to go!: CHORUS (Collaborative Hypertext of Radiology) is a quick reference hypertext for physicians and medical students containing more than 1,100 documents. This URL link is designed for use with PDAs.
Diagnosaurus 2.0 DDx PDA Tool (McGraw Hill): Free PDA tool which includes over 1000 differential diagnoses.

Medical Software and Suppliers

The sites included here list selected medical software and applications available for handhelds. It is a very small selection compared to the hundreds of products available. The resources encompass freeware, shareware and commercial products. Specific titles and suppliers of multiple resources are available. Some content is available for download from the MUSC Library, in e-books such as E-Medicine.

General Hardware and Software Sources

Where can you get a PDA these days? You will see them in electronics stores like Circuit City and Best Buys, as well as office supply stores like Office Depot, Office Max and Staples. Even Kmart and Target have them now. Below are a few Web sites from which you can order PDAs, often more up-to-date models at better prices.

Franklin Electronic Publishers: A source for hardware and software for handhelds.
FreewarePalm: Free software for your handheld
Handango: A source for handheld software; arranged by operating system.
Handera
Intellisync Handheld Edition: Software allows synchronization between your PC and your Palm OS® or Windows Mobile device.
MemoWare: E-books for the PDA
Palm: Home page for the Palm company,provides Palm OS handhelds, software and accessories
Palm Boulevard: Provides links to software, hardware, message boards. Online ordering. Includes reviews, news, how-to's
Palm Store: Purchase Palm brand hardware & software
PalmGear.com
PDAStreet.com: Source for hardware, software, reviews. Includes all operating systems.
PocketGear.com: Distribution site for hardware and software for Windows Mobile™ from various developers.
Software Archives: Includes software for multiple platforms including handhelds.
Tucows: Over 30,000 software programs and reviews. Not limited to PDAs; all topics
VersionTracker
Windows Mobile: Offers software, hardware, news and events
ZDNet: Provides information & reviews about all types of computers, peripherals and accessories. Includes extensive information about handhelds. Also provides reviews.

Reviews and Comparisons

Which PDA is right for you? What are the most important features? Reviews and comparisons can help you decide. Don't forget to search the professional literature as well to see what your colleagues are choosing.

c|net Reviews: Reviews on every sort of consumer electronics.
Gadgeteer: Provides reviews of electronic and digital gadgets. Includes handhelds and accessories.
Medical Software Advice
Palm TipSheet
PCMagazine
PDA Cortex Store: Includes reviews
pdalive.com: Includes reviews, chat, forum, help, how-tos & news
Smart Phone & Pocket PC Magazine
Tucows: Over 30,000 software programs and reviews. Not limited to PDAs; all topics
Visorcentral: Delivers high news, articles, and reviews to the community of Handspring Visor users.
ZDNet: Provides information & reviews about all types of computers, peripherals and accessories. Includes extensive information about handhelds. Also provides reviews.

Educational Sites

Medical libraries, medical schools, as well as groups and individuals, are sharing information on how they are using PDAs in health care. Here are some selected sites that can help you learn how your colleagues in other medical schools are using PDAs and other mobile technologies.

Ectopic Brain: Provides links to many sites giving introductions and basic information. Produced by Kent E. Willyard, M.D.
FPpda.com: by a family practice resident; includes comparisons, download links,tutorials,links to useful programs, and self-developed programs
Palm/Internet and Miscellany forBaylor College of Medicine Residents: Short introduction to using a palm device by an individual. Includes links to other sites.
PDA Medicine (VCU School of Medicine): Provides links to various useful sites.
PDA Resources (Lyman Maynard Stowe Library at the University of Connecticut Health Center): from the Lyman Maynard Stowe Library at the University of Connecticut Health Center
Pda4peds.com: Contains information about a variety of materials related to pediatrics for handhelds
PDAs in Family Medicine Practice (University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Family Medicine): Pull down the Program Details tab. Select Personal Digital Assistants. Shares experiences with PDA use in their department. Good overview.
Pediatrics on Hand: Site professes to keep the most up-to-date collection of pediatric specific programs and files for the Palm based handheld. Provides reviews of products and links to sites for purchase. Includes resources for parents.
Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) Resources (Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries): From the Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries, a selected list of links for handheld devices.
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) (College of Nursing University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center): Guide to PDAs from the College of Nursing University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Recommendations for Handheld Hardware and Software (Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine): This site's primary goal is to provide up-to-date recommendations for the use of handhelds in medical education.
Washington University Medical Palm Initiative: Provides links to useful websites relating to handheld devices and resources