Save 50% on ZAGG invisibleSHIELD today!

Receive 50% off your purchase Monday May 31st, 2010


This is a great time to get the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for your smartphone. So, whether you have an Apple iPhone or a BlackBerry Storm 2, the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD will protect your screen and your device. 

In honor of the veterans who have served and the troops currently serving the United States of America, ZAGG's Memorial Day sale begins Sunday at 10:00 PM MST (GMT -6:00) and ends Tuesday at 2:00 AM MST (GMT -6:00). Customers will receive 50% off their total purchase excluding shipping.

Motorola Droid 2 is coming to Verizon

There are rumors and photos circulating around the web about the upcoming Motorola Droid 2. This Android-powered smartphone will be on the Verizon Wireless network and it will have a nicer QWERTY keyboard compared to the current Droid.  The rest of the Droid could be roughly the same. So, for those looking for a new Android smartphone, you may want to wait and see how the Droid 2 compares with the Droid. Plus, you can expect that the price on the Droid will drop once the Droid 2 comes out.

If I had to get a new smartphone today, I'd probably go for the Droid. I'm stuck on Verizon and I can't change.

Win a Free iPod touch® Loaded with Epocrates® Software

This is just another reminder: I'm sure we all know some graduating students who would be interested in this graduation celebration:

2010 Graduation Celebration! Win a Free iPod touch® Loaded with Epocrates® Software

Exciting new smartphones on the horizon

Let me highlight a few new smartphones that will be appearing soon:

• New Apple iPhone. On Monday, June  7, when Steve Jobs kicks off WWDC (a conference for Apple developers), we can expect to hear about a new Apple iPhone. My guess is that it will look like the leaked iPhone that we saw circulating on the Internet a few weeks ago.
• BlackBerry Bold 9650 on Verizon. It's good to see BlackBerry adding Wi-Fi to their handsets.
• BlackBerry Bold 9800. This will be the first "slider" that includes a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a touch screen. It could the perfect combination for those who like the STORM but need a hardware keyboard.
• T-Mobile Garminfone. If you need Garmin-style GPS navigation in your smartphone, this could be a nice option. Since it will run Android, you'll have a variety of medical apps you can install on this device.

This is just a short list, but these are some of the devices that are on my radar. I'll want to get my hands on these and test them as soon as they come out.

Reviving a dead BlackBerry Curve 3300

The other day, I had the opportunity to revive a dead BlackBerry Curve 3300. The device simply didn't turn on. Removing the battery and reinserting it did nothing. When I connected it to my PC, the device was recognized, so I used BlackBerry Desktop Software and I tried to reinstall the OS (flash the ROM). That didn't work, but when I went to flash an older ROM, the device woke up and it started working.

Why didn't the device turn on? Was it stuck? Did the ROM get corrupted? I have no idea. I also don't know how long the device will continue to work, so I encouraged my coworker to get a new smartphone ASAP.

PEPID Launches Its Reference App on Android

This is a guest post by Greg Bartlett.

Doctors and other medical professionals who’ve made the move to Android will now have access to PEPID’s reference app. The drug database is one of the most comprehensive on the market, offering dosage calculators as well as interactions notifications. The diagnostic tools packed into this subscription-based app are certainly extensive.

The PEPID Android app is available for those running OS version 1.6 or later, but most mid-to-recent model smartphones compatible with Google’s mobile platform should be able to handle the app with an upgrade. According to PEPID’s site, the service also requires an active internet connection for illustrations, dictionary definition links, and the diagnosis generator.

The subscription model gives professionals access to upgrades and reference additions. And if you’ve been subscribing to a Platinum edition of the service before, you can transfer to the Android platform with an email to PEPID’s support team. PEPID also offers group-rate subscriptions for hospitals, schools, and other medical organizations who would like to integrate the database into their services.

Those interested in a free trial of the app can click here. The demo requires an account setup, but the 14 days free might be worth the effort. Customers who like the program can opt to renew the service and begin paying for a subscription.

Read more »

Twitter apps for Windows Mobile

I realize that Windows Phone 7 is coming out at the end of the year, so all these apps written for Windows Mobile 6.5 probably won't run on the brand new Windows Phone 7. However, let me write about Twitter apps for those of you who may be hanging on to your Windows Mobile smartphones for a bit longer.

TouchTwit, MoTweets, and Twikini are some of the more popular Twitter apps for Windows Mobile. I've tried all of these and I still don't have a favorite Twitter app for Windows Mobile. Maybe that's because Twitter hasn't released an official app for Windows Mobile. I still meet so many physicians and medical students who don't understand Twitter. How can you live in modern society and be uninformed about Twitter?

Speaking of Twitter, don't forget to follow me: @DrJosephKim

Mobile Medical Minute on ReachMD: Cracking the Barcode

There's a new series on ReachMD called the Mobile Medical Minute. This week, you can listen to me speak about barcode apps on Android in "Cracking the Barcode."

You may have noticed something that looks like a square barcode is popping up more and more in magazines, journals, websites, even on some of your colleagues' business cards. Unlike the barcodes you see on the products you buy, which give a cashier price information, these barcodes hold websites, contact information, messages, and more. Your key to getting that information is your smartphone's barcode scanner. Dr. Joseph Kim explains how.

Read more »

Reminder: Win a Free iPod touch® Loaded with Epocrates® Software

Don't forget to tell people about this contest!  I'm sure we all know some graduating students who could use this:

2010 Graduation Celebration! Win a Free iPod touch® Loaded with Epocrates® Software

How was your graduation celebration?

Android 2.2 Froyo includes Adobe Flash 10.1 support

Good news for all you Android users: Android 2.2 (also know as Froyo) includes Adobe Flash 10.1 support. Just when Verizon HTC Droid Eris users got their upgrades to 2.1, Google announced that Android 2.2 will be coming soon. You'll get a faster web browser, tethering, the ability to install apps to your storage card, and more. Tethering won't be limited to USB cable tethering. You can convert your Wi-Fi enabled Android smartphone into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Lexi-Comp for Android

For those of you using Android smartphones, have you tried Lexi-Comp? They offer several different types of software packages such as:

Lexi-COMPLETE includes databases created, validated, and published exclusively by Lexi-Comp, plus additional licensed resources. Lexi-COMPLETE is the most comprehensive software package offered by Lexi-Comp.

Lexi-SELECT contains databases that have been created, validated, and published exclusively by Lexi-Comp. Additional licensed resources may be added at an additional cost.

Lexi-CLINICAL SUITE combines four complementary Lexi-Comp resources in one convenient package. This suite provides information on conditions, drugs, interactions, and laboratory and diagnostic tests.

Lexi-Drugs & Lexi-Interact brings together Lexi-Comp's best-selling databases in one easy-to-use application. Combine Lexi-Comp's most comprehensive drug database with the industry's leading interactions tool!

And others. If you're looking for some medical reference software for your Android smartphone, take a look at http://www.lexi.com/pda/google-android/

Multiple Sclerosis iPhone App

Projects in Knowledge has released a Multiple Sclerosis iPhone App: This free, interactive textbook offers CME, CE, and CPE credit and provides comprehensive coverage of important MS-related topics, supplemented by hyperlinks to external multimedia resources such as illustrations, videos, journal articles, and other resources, that enhance understanding of relevant issues.

Download the iPhone App here

This free, interactive textbook provides comprehensive coverage of important MS-related topics, supplemented by hyperlinks to external multimedia resources such as illustrations, videos, journal articles, and other resources, that enhance understanding of relevant issues.

Read more »

Four Great Free Medical Android Apps

This is a guest post by Greg Bartlett. Contact me if you'd like to submit an article.

Yes, Android users aren’t receiving the same degree of attention that Apple lovers are. Sure, everyone has to have something in the iPhone and iPad store, but many software developers still consider Google’s Android platform something like optional. That’s changing, and here are four free medical apps for Android that you can get today to convince yourself that someone still cares.

Epocrates. Yes, everyone has this invaluable free reference already. If you don’t, however, consider yourself informed. Download it, use it, love it. While you can find some premium versions at a price, the basic app is more than worth the time to transfer.

Skyscape. Another crucial reference tool, Skyscape provides a wealth of information in the form of calculators, drug guides, and an accessible version of Outlines in Clinical Medicine. The basic, free version may be all you need, but paid content includes more specialized guides and materials.

Read more »

2010 Graduation Celebration! Win a Free iPod touch® Loaded with Epocrates® Software

UPDATE: The 2010 Graduation Celebration has been expanded into a summer giveaway and the contest has been extended. More details to come soon...

If you're graduating in 2010 to be a physician, a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant, then we want to help you celebrate!

Join us at MedicalSmartphones.com for an Epocrates sponsored contest. Free prizes include:

1. The Grand Prize will be an Apple iPod touch® (8 GB) plus a 1-year subscription to Epocrates® Essentials.
2. The First Runner Up Prize will be a 1-year subscription to Epocrates Essentials.
3. The Second Runner Up Prize will be a 1-year subscription to Epocrates Essentials.

This contest will run from May 17 to June 17, 2010. In order to be eligible, you must be a student graduating in 2010 from: a U.S. medical school, or a U.S. nurse practitioner program, or a U.S. physician assistant program.

In order to enter the contest, you must complete each of the following 3 steps:

1. Become a fan of the MedicalSmartphones Facebook fan page
2. Become a fan of the Epocrates Facebook fan page
3. Share your story by posting a comment at the bottom of this MedicalSmartphones.com blog post. Your posted story must include your full name along with the name of your school. You must choose from one of the following four themes:

1. You used a smartphone to make a medical diagnosis; or
2. You used a smartphone to help you study; or
3. You used a smartphone to avoid a medical error; or
4. You used a smartphone to improve patient care.

All winners will be notified via Facebook once the contest has been closed and winners have been selected.

Potential winners must provide proof that they are a graduating medical student, nurse practitioner student, or physician assistant student in 2010. Acceptable proof of graduating student status will include either: a photo of the student identification card that includes the graduation year or a letter from the school's academic affairs department indicating that the student is graduating in 2010.

Winners will selected by a random drawing.

Click here for the full contest details.

Medical guides on the BlackBerry App World

The phrase "App Store" pertains to Apple's iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, but we all tend to use that phrase regardless of which smartphone operating system we may be dealing with. It's like Kleenex. We don't say "tissue." We say Kleenex, even when we're referring to other brands.

So, BlackBerry has the App World. On it, you can navigate to the Health & Wellness section, click on "Medical Guides" and view some of the most popular titles that are currently listed. Here's an example of what' you'll see:

1. Woman Calendar for BlackBerry
2. Pregnancy Wheel
3. Age Calculator Pro
4. Cardio Calc
5. ECG Guide
6. Heme Calc
7. GI Calc
8. Complete Home First Aid Course
9. ICD9 Coder
10. Weight Points Calculator

I think that eventually BlackBerry should follow Apple's example and create a separate section called "Medical." Many apps listed under "health and wellness" are mainly for consumers and not for healthcare professionals.

Bing for Mobile with GPS navigation and turn-by-turn directions

If you've been looking for a free GPS navigation and spoken turn-by-turn directions, then you should try Bing for Mobile. Medical students are always looking for free software. Why pay money for a GPS navigation app when you can get one for free?

Bing is the Microsoft's search engine and they've made significant improvements to their mobile app for Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and even for the iPhone. Not sure if they'll release an Android version given that Google has their own maps, their own GPS navigation with turn-by-turn directions, and their own search engine.

Visit: m.bing.com

Upgrade to Office Mobile 2010

If you're one of the few people out there running Windows Mobile, then you should know that Microsoft has released an update for Office Mobile. Here's a snippet from a press release dated 5/12/2010:

Effective today, Office Mobile 2010 will be available for free via Windows® Phone Marketplace for all Windows Mobile 6.5 phones with a previous version of Office Mobile. People using Office Mobile 2010 can perform lightweight editing of Office documents and take notes on the go. With Office Mobile, people can work with Office documents stored on their phone, attached to an e-mail, and can browse, edit, and update documents stored on a Microsoft SharePoint 2010 site.

Have you upgraded to Office 2010?

Smartphone App Offers Comprehensive Timesheet Tracking

This is a guest post by by Greg Bartlett. Contact me if you'd like to submit an article.

Medical professionals on the go know exactly how annoying it is to fill out all of their timesheet information—whether they be the responsible few who diligently record their activity as they go, or they’re the majority who scribble it all down quickly at the end of the day. In perhaps an offer of help to employees as much as employers, Econz has developed Timecard, a smartphone app that lets mobile professionals clock in, clock out—and more—on the go.

The app certainly packs a variety of features for the employee. Workers can make all of the usual notes on the timesheet: lunch breaks, travel time, early clock out, etc. They can also message other workers from within the program’s interface, as well keep track of ongoing jobs sent to them by their supervisor. Team leaders on the field can also clock entire teams in and out simultaneously.

Read more »

Is your smartphone drug database up-to-date?

There are several different drug database software solutions out there for PDAs and smartphones. How often do you update your software? The convenience of having a smartphone is that your device can get updated automatically. My smartphone auto-updates and performs a synchronization every night. So, when I wake up the next morning, I have updated information and even a few news alerts.

So, whether you're using Epocrates, Skyscape, Lexi-Comp, PEPID, Unbound Medicine, Medscape, Tarascon, or any other drug reference software, make sure you're updating your database on a regular basis.

Here's a list of new drugs on the Epocrates drug database:

• AK-Poly-Bac (bacitracin/polymyxin B ophthalmic)
• bacitracin/polymyxin B ophthalmic (generic)
• chlorzoxazone (generic for Parafon Forte DSC)
• citric acid/sodium citrate(generic for Bicitra)
• Exalgo (hydromorphone)
• Hizentra (immune globulin (human))
• lidocaine oronasopharyngeal (generic for Xylocaine oronasopharyngeal)
• lidocaine urethral (generic for Xylocaine urethral)
• losartan (first-time generic for Cozaar)
• losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (first-time generic for Hyzaar)
• Omnipred (prednisolone acetate ophthalmic)
• Oracit (citric acid/sodium citrate)
• Pennsaid (diclofenac topical)
• Pilopine HS (pilocarpine ophthalmic
• Pred-G (gentamicin/prednisolone ophthalmic)
• Qutenza (capsaicin topical)
• Tropicacyl (tropicamide ophthalmic)
• tropicamide ophthalmic (generic for Mydriacyl)
• Wilate (antihemophilic factor/von Willebrand factor complex (human))
• Xylocaine urethral (lidocaine urethral)
• Zyclara (imiquimod topical)

When's the last time you performed a sync?

New medical apps from Tarascon

Tarascon has released 3 new titles recently for the iPhone/iPod touch, and iPad:

1. Stroke Essentials
2. Tarascon Hospital Medicine
3. Hypertension Essentials

The Stroke Essentials App is a concise, authoritative and practical guide to the detection, evaluation, and treatment of stroke including the latest guidelines, common pitfalls, comprehensive film library and clinical management algorithms.

The Tarascon Hospital Medicine App is a quick reference tool providing inpatient clinicians with critical information about the evaluation and management of all common medical disorders found in the hospital setting.

The Hypertension Essentials App is a concise, and practical step-by-step tool to diagnose, evaluate, and treat hypertension including over 50 clinical trials, common management pitfalls and cardiovascular risk reduction measures.

You can find these apps in the Apple App Store. Learn more by visiting: http://www.tarascon.com/

Verizon's HTC Droid Eris Android 2.1 upgrade coming soon!

The Android OS upgrade to 2.1 is coming to the HTC Droid Eris on Verizon Wireless. The Eris is a light, thin smartphone running Android and it's almost like a smaller, simpler version of the Nexus One.

Information regarding the upgrade is now posted on the Verizon website, so we know that it's coming soon! ROM: 2.36.605.1/Radio: 2.42.00.04.12 update

My favorite features found in Android 2.1 include the following:

• Voice-to-text entry
• Turn-by-turn directions via Google Maps
• Pinch-to-zoom in the Gallery and Google Maps

http://support.vzw.com/information/droid_eris_upgrade.html

Apple iPhone exclusive to AT&T until 2012

Those of you waiting for a Verizon iPhone will need to wait past 2010. That's when the exclusivity arrangement between AT&T and Apple will end. So, all those rumors about the Verizon iPhone are simply dead rumors now. Here comes the twist (according to Engadget):

an ongoing California class-action lawsuit filed in 2007 claims that Apple and AT&T illegally exerted a monopoly over iPhone service by telling customers the iPhone's required service contract was two years long when the Apple / AT&T exclusivity deal was actually for five years -- thus requiring buyers to re-up with AT&T for three years (and not, say, T-Mobile) if they wanted to keep using the iPhone.

So, what's going to happen? I don't think anyone on Verizon will see a CDMA iPhone. Maybe when the iPhone 4G comes out, mobile phones will be compatible across all the major networks. Maybe the differences between GSM vs. CDMA will disappear. Maybe users will somehow "hack" the upcoming iPhones so that they can work on the Verizon network. Maybe...

If you're on Verizon, go with Android. Or, switch to AT&T if you really want the iPhone.

Voalté Releases New Findings on the Use of Smartphones in Hospitals

Voalté Releases New Findings on the Use of Smartphones in Hospitals
Smartphones provide a new platform for improving patient care

SARASOTA, Fla. May 10, 2010– Voalté, a leading developer of innovative point-of-care communications software on the iPhone and BlackBerry smartphone devices has announced the release of a white paper, ‘Smart Hospitals- Embracing Smartphones at the Point of Care’. The white paper includes information on communication inefficiencies within hospitals that cause confusion and reduce efficiency, ultimately leading to nurse dissatisfaction and increasing the staffing shortage.

According to the report, “While medical breakthroughs and advancements happen every single day, our hospital communication systems tend to lag behind other technology improvements. Researchers estimate that U.S. hospitals waste $12 billion annually due to poor communication. For a typical 500 bed, acute-care hospital, communication problems between physicians and nurses creates an annual $4 million economic burden.”

The paper covers the following topics:
· Challenges of traditional healthcare communications
· Activities on which nurses spend their time
· Significant benefits smartphones offer healthcare workers

To download the entire white paper, please visit: http://www.voalte.com/Smart-Hospitals.aspx?source=smwhp.

About Voalté
Voalté provides compelling software solutions for healthcare institutions that solve communication problems at the point-of-care. Voalté products are designed to be intuitive, high value, mission critical applications running on the latest generation of touch-based smartphones. For more information, visit www.Voalte.com or call 941.312.2830.

When will you be replacing your current smartphone or PDA?

Physicians tend to get so busy that they can't keep up with modern technology. So many doctors still use old Palm OS PDAs and carry a separate cell phone! I doubt you'll see many U.S. physicians carrying old analog cell phones, but a few of them may still have some really old devices.

How often do you replace your smartphone? If you're an early adopter like me, then you're probably constantly scanning the Internet to learn about the latest and greatest gadget. If that's the case, then you'll never be satisfied. A newer, better device will always be out before your current device "dies." Some of you still using first-generation iPhones are probably waiting for an excuse to upgrade to the iPhone 3GS. Others may be waiting for the iPhone 4G (will it just be 4G, or will it be called 4GS?).

To review old and new cell phones, you may want to search sites like CNET, TestFreaks, Engadget,  iGadgetLife, or PC Magazine. However, don't base your entire decision on professional reviews since most of these reviews are written by tech-savvy users.

It's nice to have a world phone

How much do you travel internationally? I may have a trip coming up where I'll need to cross the Atlantic. It's nice to have a World Phone. Even though Verizon currently operates on the CDMA network, it has several World Phones that are capable of switching to GSM when you're overseas.

Given that many major medical meetings occur in different countries, it may be a good idea for you to invest in a World Phone if you plan to travel to many of these meetings. 

webOS coming to AT&T (Palm Pre Plus)

webOS isn't dead since HP acquired Palm. It looks like webOS is coming to the AT&T network. As predicted, by the end of 2010, I think that we may see every major smartphone OS on every major wireless network here in the United States. The only uncertainty revolves around the iPhone: will it appear on Verizon and T-Mobile?

According to several rumors, the Palm Pre Plus is coming to AT&T on May 14. Given that Europe has already seen a GSM Palm Pre, this isn't a surprise. I'm still waiting for the next Palm to be branded as an HP smartphone. Maybe HP will maintain the Palm brand.

BlackBerry Healthcare Webinars

Are you familiar with the Healthcare Solutions on BlackBerry? I used to have a BlackBerry Storm. It was a nice smartphone, but I needed something that had more internal memory for medical apps. The Storm 2 is a nice upgrade.

Collaborate more effectively and improve the delivery of secure clinical information to your healthcare team by implementing the BlackBerry® solution in your organization.

Here are some interesting webinars that you can now view on-demand because they're archived activities:

Delivering a SOA-Based Community Record to Caregivers Everywhere at UPMC with BlackBerry Smartphones
Details: UPMC, in conjunction with Research in Motion Limited (RIM), designer and manufacturer of the BlackBerry wireless platform, has created "dbMobile." This powerful, fun and easy-to-use application is the first of its kind to deliver an on-demand, shared community patient record to BlackBerry-using caregivers throughout UPMC's healthcare system. Enabled by the organization's interoperability platform, demand is on the rise from UPMC clinicians who are enjoying increased access to a single, comprehensive view of meaningfully organized key patient data anywhere and everywhere.

Clinical Collaboration on BlackBerry with Customer Dr. Bill Fera – University Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC)
Details: The BlackBerry Healthcare Solution provides the platform for collaboration, critical alerts, and clinical applications. The result - secure and timely access to colleagues and information, which improves the safety and quality of care delivery. Hear from Dr. Bill Fera on how the patient care cycle is shortened with more resourceful communications and more real-time data for decisions – all with the BlackBerry Smartphone. Most importantly, how the quality of patient care increases while the cost of care decreases.

Clinical Collaboration on BlackBerry
Details: This webcast discusses a platform for collaboration, critical alerts, and clinical applications. Find out how you can take advantage of this healthcare solution and provide secure and timely access to colleagues and information, improving the safety and quality of care delivery.

View the BlackBerry Healthcare Webinars

Bible apps for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and webOS

Today is the National Day of Prayer. Instead of blogging about medical apps, I'm going to list a few Bible apps for those of you looking to hold a Bible in your smartphone:

• Laridian
• Olive Tree
• Mantis Bible
• YouVersion

Of course, there are many others, but these are the ones that come to mind when I think about Bible apps. Please join me in praying for this country and for the world on this National Day of Prayer.

20 iPad Apps Every Doctor Must Have

This is a guest post by Melissa Tamura. Contact me if you'd like to submit an article. 

20 iPad Apps Every Doctor Must Have

Apple has already stated that iPhone apps will function on the iPad. However, there are also an abundance of current or upcoming apps that no doctor should be caught being without.

1. Blausen Human Atlas. This application is designed to better improve the communication between patients and physicians. Instead of explaining cholecystitis to a patient, a patient could look at videos which better explain them and 3D figures to explain the required surgery.
2. Visual Dx Mobile. This is more of a reference tool than anything, condensing a huge library of medical knowledge into novel format. Its ability to “Find a Diagnosis” is also useful in finding images and further information.
3. Procedures Consult. This is actually a series of applications that offer a wealth of information with regards to medical procedures. A voice narrates throughout informational videos, including those for post-procedure, which highlight important things such as submitting pleural fluid to the laboratory.
4. OsiriX. Recently, this application was used to accurate diagnose a case of acute appendicitis, and it is a mind-blowing experience seeing how well it produces radiology images. Save the trip to the office and reference pictures on this application.
5. Papers. As the name suggests, it is easy to reference papers from this application – specifically, research papers.
6. MDiTV (coming soon). This application is one that streams live videos of surgeries for reference purposes.
7. Grays Anatomy Premium. This application contains thousands of images and comes in at a large download because of that. However, these images can be searched and used to show patients reference pictures or for a doctor to reference him or herself.
8. MD On Call. This will offer residents and medical students essential information to live by when they are on call. The extra space the iPad offers makes it easier to read algorithms on-screen.
9. Dragon Dictation (coming soon). This free application will allows a doctor to dictate words to it and record them for patients or themselves.
10. Wikipanion (coming soon). Though not technically a medical application, it still functions well for medical references upon searching the appropriate terms.
11. Pocket Medicine. Doctors can use the index, drug reference or an algorithm list in order to locate information per diagnosis, or per symptom.
12. 5 Minute Clinical Consult. Powered by Skyscape, this application stores the 715 most common medical conditions and rapid access to treatment, symptoms, follow-up and medications.
13. Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics (coming soon). A joint partnership of Washington University School of Medicine and Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, this application offers the same as the 5 Minute Clinical Consult but also offers tables and graphics relating to the condition.
14. Clinical Orthopedic Exam (coming soon). This application offers several medical videos to show patients who need a better understanding of different diseases. However, it does have a lack of audio.
15. Writing Pad. This is a notepad-like application, on which a doctor can be free of pen, paper and handwriting. Different colors can be used to highlight portions.
16. iTriage (coming soon). This application gives more options to patients, with options to call 911, research diseases, find a doctor and more.
17. Xprompt. For foreign patients, this application allows for better communications when doctors and patients speak different languages.
18. GI Monitor. This allows doctors and patients to track their symptoms with a user-friendly interface.
19. PubMed Mobile (coming soon). This allows doctors to remotely access PubMed to save articles relevant to their situation for future reference.
20. Low Back Pain Clinical Management Guidelines. This is rather self-explanatory; this offers a reference to guidelines patients should follow when dealing with lower back pain.

Melissa Tamura writes for the Zen College Life directory of online degrees. She most recently wrote about the top online colleges.

Gmail Sync on BlackBerry

Two-way Gmail synchronization is now available on the BlackBerry. These days, almost everyone seems to have a Gmail account. If you don't, then you don't know what you're missing. I also regularly use Google Calendar and Google Docs. I feel like I'm computing on the cloud all the time.

Speaking of Gmail, I still remember when Gmail was "beta." Do you remember those days? 

Unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls on Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is advertising "Unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls." Smartphones that are capable of Skype Mobile include a long list of smartphones running Google Android and BlackBerry. Sorry Windows Mobile and webOS users. Your devices aren't on the list right now. Let's hope that changes soon.

In the past, people relied on Wi-Fi connections to use Skype. Now, you can use your 3G connection (without doing any hacking or modifications to your phone). This is a great feature for medical students, international medical graduates who still have family members overseas, and for cost-conscious physicians who want to save on phone bills and international calls. 

To learn more, visit  http://phones.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile/

$29.99 for a Palm Pre Plus on Verizon Wireless

Wow, if you're looking for a good deal on the Palm Pre Plus running webOS, you may be happy to know that Verizon Wireless is offering this device for only $29.99. That's a really good deal for a starving medical student or an under-paid resident.

In the past, I think I would have said that Palm was dead. Now that HP has acquired Palm, I think we're going to see some new life breathed into this company. Would I recommend a webOS smartphone? I would now. I still think that Apple's iPhone and Google's Android both have a head start, but I'm also curious to see how Microsoft will leverage Windows Phone 7 and how BlackBerry will market their new OS.

Smartphone App Enhances Employers’ Ability to Track Employees

This is a guest post by by Greg Bartlett. Contact me if you'd like to submit an article. 

Smartphone App Enhances Employers’ Ability to Track Employees

If you're employed by a hospital or practice that's issued you a smartphone, chances are your HR department is concerned about what you do and do not view with its internet browsing capabilities. Even the most permissive of firms are at least a little curious if company property is being used as a distraction, so many are resorting to tracking software like Mobile Spy 4.0.

Developed by Retina-X Studios, Mobile Spy is an app for Blackberry-other versions coming eventually-that allows employers to monitor nearly every conceivable action on their employee's company-issued smartphones. Previous versions of the app logged keystrokes, internet browsing histories, and of course all call records.

The 4.0 iteration includes a variety of additional-and more intrusive-features. Employers may now access full contact lists, event calendars, and memos stored on the smartphone's memory. They can also preview any email sent to or from the device, as well as any picture taken with the onboard camera.

Read more »

Epocrates Clinical Updates: April 2010

Epocrates Clinical Updates:
April 2010

Updates Summary:

	21 new drug monographs
	229 drug monographs edited
	407 drug-drug interaction edits

New Disease and Condition Topics Available*

	Evaluation of anemia
	Health Maintenance for Adults
	Actinomycosis
	Hepatic steatosis
	Ovarian torsion
	Evaluation of persistent pulmonary infiltrate
	Skull fractures
	Polyarteritis nodosa
	Evaluation of cranial nerve mononeuropathy
	Yellow fever

Read more »

Remember when Sony used to make a Palm? (it was called a Clie)

Now that HP has purchased Palm, I wonder what that does to all those Sony Clie PDAs out there running the original Palm OS. Do these go into a museum?  My wife had an old Sony Clie. It had a color screen and it was a really nice PDA. 

I'm eager to see what HP will do now that they've acquired webOS and all of Palm's patents. Just when I thought that webOS was dead, a new twist occurs. Now, I'm thinking that webOS has a bright future in the hands of HP and we'll continue to see innovation coming out of Google, Apple, and HP/Palm.

Palm: a timeline from the Palm Pilot to the Palm Pre

PC World has a nice slideshow titled, "A Palm Technology Timeline." This article reminds us of the late 1990's when "Palm was King." Remember the Palm Pilot 1000 that came out in 1996? It used AAA batteries and the first model didn't even have a backlight. Can you believe that people spent $300 for a little device that had a 16MHz processor and 128KB of memory? Then, Palm became quite progressive with thinner models, color screens, SD card slot for memory expansion, wireless capabilities, and more. The Palm V and the Palm Vx were some of the most popular models because they were so thin. Now, Palm has been acquired by HP, so what's going to happen?

To see the slideshow on PC World, click here.

Twitter for Android - it's official

There's now an official Twitter app for Android smartphone users. You'll see it when you open the Android Market. Twitter is a great way to stay connected with others and to share vital information. I encourage you to follow me on Twitter (@DrJosephKim)

Speaking of Twitter, there are still many physicians who don't understand the value of Twitter. Of course, many of these also don't use Facebook or LinkedIn, so it can be a bit challenging to explain social media.

Don't want to install an app to Tweet? Then visit: http://mobile.twitter.com on your mobile phone.

2010 Graduation iPod® Drawing Rules

2010 Graduation iPod® Drawing: Rules

U.S. ONLY. VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Eligibility: "2010 Graduation iPod Drawing," (AKA the "Promotion" or the "Contest"), is open only to legal medical, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner students who are graduating in 2010. Students must be residents of the 50 United States (and the District of Columbia) and at least 18 years of age. Principals and employees of MedicalSmartphones.com, Epocrates, their affiliates and subsidiaries, their immediate families and contest supervisors are not eligible. All federal, state and local laws apply.

Sponsor: Epocrates® Inc,

Read more »