What does a kidless tech-loving ER doc do with a day off? Braves the lines at the nearest Apple Store, naturally, because obviously he can’t do the reasonable thing and wait like a week to pick up the iPhone 3G.
There are hundreds of fantastic things about the iPhone, but this blog will concentrate on the free app Epocrates Rx, which I am pleased to report is real and spectacular. Here are some screen shots that basically tell the story:
There’s also as seen above a very handy-dandy pill ID function that lets you identify all twelve meds the patient brought mixed together in a ziplock baggie.
I have no stock or financial interest or whatever in Epocrates, rather I have just found it to be the most useful medical PDA software since we were first introduced my third year of med school. And it’s free.
Um Palm, look…we have to talk.
July 12, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I too braved the lines and have been enjoying my iPhone. This is the first time I’ve been able to use ePocrates in the last four years, because the auto-update software wasn’t compatible with my Mac. I’ve been disappointed with Palm, especially since they stopped even bothering to updates their software for Macs 2 years ago.
Did you see they have Netter’s Anatomy as a paid app?
I also like the ICE app – in case of emergency. For 99 cents, it let me identify myself, list emergency contacts (with relationship), and it has inputs for allergies, meds, and medical conditions.
July 12, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Cool!
July 12, 2008 at 3:30 pm
So very jealous… But happy for you!
I thought about going the iPhone/iTouch route when my Palm died earlier this year, but didn’t want to wait on the 3rd party software release and really needed some of the other functions. Ended up with a handheld PC. I like it, but now I’m still eye the Apple items…
July 12, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Hell, I’m not a medical professional at all, and I even just instant messaged this entry to my (also non-medical) husband to say, “Look how cool this is!” Seems like it would be a very handy app to have.
July 12, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Epocrates looks way better on the iphone than on my blackjack. I’ve got to get one now.
July 13, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Nice thing to know. I might need that Epocrates some day.
July 13, 2008 at 10:22 pm
very nice! Am holding off on the iPhone until the program’s paid-for subscription to Pepid runs out. How’s the GPS? The thought of a fully-functioning all-in-one gizmo is tempting.
July 15, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Hey, like your blog. Looks like you finished residency one year after me. Nice to see a blog from a similar perspective.
I’m dying for an iPhone! Have to wait for my Sprint contract to run out.
July 19, 2008 at 8:41 am
Nice blog, i have added it to my favourites, greetings
July 20, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I got this on my iphone also, would be nice if it had some more Australian trade names.
July 21, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I guess 10/10 is busy playing with his new iPhone and not posting new blog entries…
July 22, 2008 at 9:24 am
Dude. Three of the other ER docs I read are on vacation. Where are you?
July 26, 2008 at 7:26 pm
What I would like to know is how’s the battery life issue? I normally have 10 hour shifts and the posted life is about five hours – I would not want my iPhone unattended at any station/desk in my ER . . . any thoughts on this one aspect? Granted I wouldn’t be using it all the time but new toys tend to get a lot of use up front.
July 28, 2008 at 9:42 am
Jeff,
I bought a case on-line and wear it on my hip, I agree you don’t want it laying around.
It shuts itself off after maybe 20 seconds of inactivity, so haven’t even gone thru half the battery in any given shift.
September 19, 2008 at 4:20 am
Jeff, my iPhone lasts easily through a 12-hour shift with pretty consistent usage. I find that I can typically get through a 24-hour day or better without having to recharge.
And I agree with 10/10, the ePocrates app for iPhone is way cooler than what I used to use on my Palm. When I went iPhone, I complained that the two things it lacked were ePocrates capability and a functional to-do list. Now with the 2.1 update, even my first-gen iPhone has everything I want it to. (And even some cool timewasters like virtual bubble-wrap and a nifty free app called Shazam which will listen to any song that’s playing and tell you who it is and what it’s called, etc.)
October 26, 2008 at 11:54 am
I am looking at switching to iphone from palm.
I find the “ID” section of epocrates (available on palm) very useful and don’t see it on iphone version. Any comments?
November 17, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I love iPhone 3g..
December 10, 2008 at 1:19 am
Hi I would just like to ask if you know how to disable DocAlerts from Epocrates iPhone version?? Thanks..
January 26, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Hi There,
Just wanted the readers of your blog to know that our premium Epocrates® Essentials suite for the iPhone™ and iPod Touch™ is now available! Until now, the premium software was available only on Palm and Windows Mobile devices.
This new version of Epocrates Essentials takes advantage of the touch-screen interface, and provides clinicians with new Peer-reviewed disease content and evidence-based differential diagnosis developed in conjunction with the BMJ Group, publisher of the British Medical Journal.
It also includes hundreds of diagnostic and laboratory tests for interpretation and diagnostic support and MedMath medical calculators!
The Epocrates Essentials premium application is now available for purchase at http://www.epocrates.com/products/essentials/iphone.html.
Best wishes,
The Epocrates Team