Epocrates Clinical Updates: July 2010

Are you using Epocrates? Make sure to update regularly. Here's a summary of some recent updates on Epocrates:

• 32 new drug monographs
• 586 drug monographs edited
• 472 drug-drug interaction edits

There's simply no way we can keep up with all the changes in the evolving world of pharmacology.  New drugs are being approved. Old drugs are turning generic. New warnings are being added. Some drugs are getting pulled off the market.

If you're using Epocrates, make sure to leverage their Mobile Resource Centers.

Save on Lexi-Comp products

You can save 10% on Lexi-Comp products through August 15. Use the coupon code seen on the right (NN710). You can install some of the Lexi-Comp apps as free trials on your smartphone and see if you'd want to purchase any of them. Here's an example of a recently updated Lexi-Comp medical app:

Drug Information Handbook, 19th Edition
Updates to this edition:

* 47 New Drug Monographs
* New Introductory Section:
o Preventing Prescribing Errors
* New Monograph Field:
o Medication Guide
* New Appendix Topics:
o Patient Information for Disposal of Unused Medications
o Beers Criteria - Potentially Inappropriate Medications for Geriatrics
* Multiple Appendix Updates

Visit: http://www.lexi.com/

Mobile Health Expo

Mobile Health Expo Launches Event to Focus on Convergence of the Mobile Technology and Healthcare Industries

Inaugural event brings entire mobile health ecosystem to Las Vegas

AUSTIN, Tex. – July 29, 2010 – Mobility and healthcare are converging in new and unprecedented ways. In fact, the mobile health technology market is expected to grow 25% annually from a current $1.5 billion to $4.6 billion by 2014.[1] Mobile Health Expo™ will convene this October to discuss the burgeoning business opportunities, as well as the impact on the delivery of global healthcare as a result of the converging mobile health industries.

What: Mobile Health Expo
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center
When: October 19-21, 2010
Registration Information: The early-bird registration rate of $1,178 for VIP ticket expires on July 31, 2010. To register, visit: http://www.mobilehealthexpo.com/index.htm

Mobile Health Expo brings together all constituents interested in advancing the technology, business, policy and medical landscape of the entire mobile health ecosystem, including mhealth (cellular phones and applications), telemedicine, wireless and connected health. In addition to exhibits showcasing cutting-edge technology and applications, and expert analysis in the keynotes and sessions, Mobile Health Expo includes an innovative event feature called The Scenarios. Technology providers will demonstrate mobile health solutions in real-life situations tied to the eight market-driving themes that are influencing mobile health.

Most popular among physicians: iPhone and BlackBerry

According to a variety of sources, the Apple iPhone and the RIM BlackBerry are the most popular smartphone choices among physicians. However, given that Google Android is gaining significant traction, when will it overcome iPhone or BlackBerry among physicians?

So, how do physicians choose smartphones? They look at the availability of medical apps. They ask their colleagues for advice. They want something that is simple and easy-to-use. Most physicians won't be "power users," so they only need access to the basic features. (Once in a while, you may find a physician who is a tech-savvy early adopter who has a hundred apps installed.)

As more physicians switch from paper charts to electronic health records, they will want smartphones that will be compatible with their EHR and CPOE systems. They'll use smartphones to stay current on the latest medical news. They're simply too busy to keep up with all the medical breakthroughs. Speaking of being busy, docs are getting more overwhelmed by the high volume of emails so they're reverting to smartphones just to keep up with their emails.

How do you use your smartphone? What would your life look like if you didn't have your smartphone?

Mobilizing for Health grant program (McKesson Foundation)

McKesson Foundation Spotlights Role of Mobile Technology in Chronic Disease Management Through Unique Grant Program

Call for Letters of Intent for Grant Consideration
Due August 13, 2010

San Francisco, CA – July 28, 2010 – The McKesson Foundation today announces Mobilizing for Health,  an initiative which will play a critical role in disseminating knowledge and understanding of mobile health (mHealth), with its first area of focus spotlighting the growing diabetes epidemic in the United States among low income and minority populations.

At the core of the initiative is the Mobilizing for Health grant program that will fund U.S. based pilot research projects and ongoing studies in need of additional funding focused on mobile phone-based interventions for low-income patients with chronic diseases. The first grant program aims to build the evidence base for using mobile phones to improve chronic disease management in the nation’s healthcare system. 

Interested applicants have until August 13, 2010 to submit a Letter of Intent and can do so via the grant program’s web site. As part of the Mobilizing for Health program, the McKesson Foundation will seek to unearth effective mHealth technologies and advocate for policies and practices that enable the adoption of scalable mHealth interventions as a component of chronic care management for under-served populations.

The Thin-Cam app (for weight loss)

Thin-site Launches Thin-Cam App, the 1st Photo Journal of its Sort

Following the successful launch of its weight loss, lifestyle change and health education Web site, Thin-site.com has developed a cutting-edge mobile platform: the Thin-cam app. With the Thin-cam app, Thin-site founder Dr. David Edelson has paired of health and technology in a whole new, convenient way.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, get to the bottom of food-related health issues or keep track of nutrition as a part of your fitness training, a food diary is an integral part of making healthy changes in your life.

The first photographic, mobile food diary, Thin-cam eliminates the painstaking tasks of writing entries in a notebook or scrolling through the long lists of foods and brands on which other digital food diaries depend. With Thin-cam, users simply snap a photograph and their entry is complete. Since photos don’t lie, the Thin-cam app dismantles many denial-induced tricks that often sabotage traditional food diaries. After all, whether you’re trying to count calories or cut carbs, sometimes it’s hard to face the facts about what we’re eating.

Thin-cam was developed by Thin-site founder David Edelson, MD, also the medical director and founder of HealthBridge, the nationally recognized weight loss and preventative health facility. One of fewer than 400 certified obesity specialists in the US, Dr. Edelson is also board-certified in Internal and Bariatric medicine.

Click here to learn more about the Thin-Cam app

Cardiology Drug Guide 2010 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Cardiology Drug Guide 2010 is the authoritative reference on cardiovascular medications for cardiologists, primary care physicians, physicians in training, physician assistants and any health care professional managing drug therapy regimens in patients with cardiovascular disease. This essential resource is updated annually and offers comprehensive data on the science and application of cardiovascular drugs available today, including pharmacology, administration and dosages. This unique guide also includes a chapter on prescribing drugs for common cardiovascular conditions.

Key features include:

• Comprehensive drug information including trade and generic names; important interactions, contraindications and precautions
• Summary tables in every chapter for quick reference
• Practical frameworks for prescribing cardiovascular drugs

Click to view in iTunes.

Physician smartphone adoption experiencing significant growth

Spyglass Consulting Group has published a report titled, "Point of Care Communications for Physicians." Here are some interesting snippets:

Point of Care Communications for Physicians presents the findings of an end-user market study focused on how physicians across the United States are rapidly adopting mobile communications at point of care to improve communications and collaboration, streamline productivity, and enhance patient care and safety.

Physician smartphone adoption experiencing significant growth.
Ninety-four percent of physicians interviewed were using smartphones to communicate, manage personal/business workflows, and access information including medical reference materials. Physician smartphone adoption is occurring more rapidly than with the general public which is evidenced by a recent AT&T announcement reporting 42 percent of their subscribers were using smartphones. Forty-four percent of physicians interviewed using smartphones had adopted the Apple iPhone followed by 25 percent who had adopted the RIM Blackberry.

Content for Point of Care Communications for Physicians was derived from more than 100 in-depth interviews with physicians working in acute care and ambulatory environments nationwide. Physicians
interviewed were technically competent and representative of a broad range of medical specialties, organization types, and organization sizes.

The telephone interviews were conducted over a three-month period starting in February 2010. The purpose of the interviews was to identify the needs and requirements for mobile communications at point of care
through discussions about
• existing workflow inefficiencies in communicating with colleagues, care team members, and patients,
• current usage models for mobile communications devices and solutions, and
• barriers for widespread mobile communications adoption.

http://www.spyglass-consulting.com

Free Samsung Galaxy S for frustrated iPhone 4 users

Samsung in the UK is giving away free Galaxy S smartphones to iPhone 4 users who are frustrated about reception problems. This story was published on CNN (and on WIRED.CO.UK).

An account on Twitter called @samsungukmobile is contacting people who've tweeted about their difficulties with the handset, asking them to submit their contact details to receive a free handset.

The Samsung Galaxy S is a slate smartphone running Google Android and this smartphone has a large 4" screen (AMOLED display). Like other similar Android smartphones, the Galaxy S runs a 1 GHz processor, so you'll see amazingly fast performance on this device. The Galaxy S is going to be branded and sold under different names:

• T-Mobile Vibrant
• Verizon Fascinate
• AT&T's Captivate

From a distance, the Galaxy S may look like an iPhone 3 GS. However, the Galaxy S runs Android, it has a removable battery, and it's made by Samsung, not Apple. So, if the Motorola Droid X is too big for you, then the Samsung Galaxy S may be a great option. 

From Texting To Apps, Using Cell Phones For Health

In case you missed this story last week, CBS News published a story titled, "From Texting To Apps, Using Cell Phones For Health."

Can smartphones improve health care?
Who's likely to use a smartphone?

It's a well-written story that includes a few real-world examples of patients and providers using smartphones and mobile applications to improve the management of chronic diseases like diabetes. As these mobile apps get integrated into EHR and PHR solutions, patients and providers will have access to their critical health information all the time.

UpToDate for Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, or webOS

Do you use UpToDate? You won't find a native app for UpToDate if you're using an Android smartphone (or iPhone, or BlackBerry, or webOS), but you can create a bookmark on your mobile web browser to: www.uptodate.com and then simply log in and access UpToDate on your mobile device.

UpToDate is an evidence-based, peer-reviewed information resource available via the Web, desktop/laptop computer and mobile device.

Back in the "old days," we used to run UpToDate on devices running Windows Mobile or Palm OS. Now, you can access UpToDate on any mobile web browser using almost any modern smartphone. So, whether you're a fan of Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, or webOS, you can access UpToDate. Waiting for Windows Phone 7 to come out? I don't think the native Windows Mobile UpToDate app will run on Windows Phone 7, so you'll need to use the mobile web browser to access UpToDate. So, whether you're a fan of Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, or webOS phone service, you can access UpToDate.

Google Voice mobile app gets updated

Yesterday, the folks over at the Google Voice Blog announced:

"At Google we are obsessed with speed. Our mantra is faster = better. This is true for our Google Voice mobile apps as well. When you want to make a call, your phone should connect you as quickly as possible, whether you’re calling via Google Voice or not.

Today we are launching an enhancement to the Google Voice mobile app on Android and Blackberry phones, which makes placing calls much faster. We call this feature “direct access numbers.” Here’s how it works:

Until today, the Google Voice app had to make a request to the Google Voice server every time you wanted to make a call to send us the phone number you wanted to dial. Then the call would be connected via a Google Voice access number. With direct access numbers, we assign a unique phone number to every person you call. This means that we no longer need to use your data network to access the server each time you make a call, so calls will be placed much faster.

The updated Android app is available from Android Market starting today. For Blackberry users, you can download the app by visiting http://m.google.com/voice from your mobile device. You will need a valid Google Voice account to use the app, and at this time, Google Voice is available in the US only.

Google Voice is a great feature/service and I'm looking forward to trying the enhanced app.

Droid X gets rooted (unlocked: gain administrator access for hacking)

At MIT, hacking was the norm. We didn't talk about the ethics behind hacking. Hacking was an integral part of the MIT culture. Well, now that I'm not at MIT anymore, I don't get to talk about hacking very much. I'm not a computer hacker, but I like to gain full administrative access so that I can unlock certain features, make some tweaks and adjustments, and modify my smartphone. That's probably why I've spent so much time in the past loading custom ROMs on my devices.

Bloggers are reporting that the Droid X can now be "rooted." That means that you can gain full access to the phone. By the way, don't mix up the jargon when you're speaking about smartphones:

Android phones are rooted, not jailbroken or unlocked
iPhones are jailbroken

So, do you plan to gain full access to your Droid X? Why would you want to do this? To gain access to restricted features that your carrier may have blocked. To learn how to gain root access to your Droid or Droid X, visit the AllDroid.org forum.

Android 2.2 (Froyo) is fast and includes some great features

The other day, I had the chance to play around with an Android smartphone loaded with Android 2.2 (Froyo). As reported by other bloggers, Android 2.2 is faster, it includes some nice new features (like support for Adobe Flash 10.1) and:

• New Home screen tips widget
• Exchange support
• Portable Wi-Fi hotspot
• Multiple keyboard languages
• Improved browser performance
• faster app switching
• smoother performance on memory-constrained devices
• Voice dialing over Bluetooth
• and more.

So, are you an early adopter? You can search the XDA-Developers forums to see if someone is cooking up an Android 2.2 ROM for your smartphone. Most of the newer Android devices will probably receive the update to Froyo, but if your phone isn't on the list, then maybe it's time to load a custom ROM so that you're not left behind.

OpenTable Mobile app for your smartphone

OK, this isn't really "medical," but we all have to eat, right? Doctors who like to wine and dine at fancy restaurants should get the OpenTable app on their smartphones. This mobile app can simplify your life, especially when you're traveling and you're trying to find some good restaurants. OpenTable Mobile is currently available for the following smartphone platforms:

• Android™
• BlackBerry®
• iPhone™
• Nokia®
• Palm webOS™

They're not leaving any smartphone behind.  I'm a fan of using OpenTable because it's free and convenient.  You can search for restaurants, make dinner appointments, and you'll receive e-mail reminders. Oh, and they recently released an app for the Apple iPad.

Have you tried Epocrates for Android?

If you're using an Android smartphone, have you given Epocrates a try? Epocrates is currently still a beta product (and it's free for you to try) and I've been using it for a while without any problems.

Here's what you can expect:

Key Features Epocrates Rx beta version for the Android OS includes:
	Drug information Over 3,500 brand and generic drug information, such as black box warnings, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, pill pictures, pricing and more.
	InteractionCheck Check for interactions among up to 30 drugs at a time.
	Pill ID Identify a mystery drug by selecting key characteristics such as color, size and imprint.
	Tables/Calcs Additional references and tools to help you every day. MedMath has dozens of useful medical calculators, including BMI, pregnancy wheel and unit conversion.

You can expect to see new features and functionality, including clinical updates and formularies, over the next couple of months. Learn more about Epocrates for Android by clicking here.

PubMed Mobile App for Android

I've been spending quite a bit of time lately with the PubMed Mobile app for Google's Android operating system. This is a great little app that allows you to quickly search the PubMed database so that you can review abstracts and find relevant articles as you're doing your research.

With PubMed Mobile, you can:

• Save articles
• Email articles
• Save your search

You can also click a button and open up a mobile web page so that you can view the actual PubMed results page. From there, you can view related citations and navigate to other articles.

To install the PubMed Mobile app, open the Android Market (the app store) and search for "PubMed" and you'll see it pop up.

MedicalSmartphones.com mentioned in the New York Times

MedicalSmartphones.com was recently mentioned in this NY Times story titled, "Losing Weight the Smartphone Way, With a Nutritionist in Your Pocket."

Are smartphones and mobile apps helping patients lose weight? You can read the article here.

Your Peripheral Brain

Listen to my ReachMD segment on the Mobile Medical Minute radio series titled, "Your Peripheral Brain." Here's a brief description:

Today's physicians need to know so much medical information that many of us find it useful to supplement our human brains with electronic peripheral brains. Dr. Joseph Kim wonders if we should be concerned about our dependence on our peripheral brains— and tells you how to be prepared, in the event you ever lose that smart phone or device you depend on.

Today, most medical students and residents carry a PDA or smartphone as a “peripheral brain.” These electronic devices are rich with information because they are connected to the Internet. Are we growing too dependent on these devices? Or, has the wealth of medical information simply grown to surpass what we’re able to handle?

Budget smartphone options for medical students

Many medical students are on tight budgets. Let's face it. You've accumulated loans, you're not working, and you're probably accumulating more loans as you're going through medical school. Who has the luxury to buy the latest and greatest smartphone?

If you're a medical student and you're thinking about purchasing a smartphone, consider this: you'll probably end up getting a new smartphone when you start residency. Therefore, you should not be too eager to buy the latest and greatest smartphone. You mainly need a solid device that will meet your needs for a few years. Then, when you actually start making some money as a resident (it won't be much, but it's more than now), then you can buy a newer, nicer smartphone.

Smartphone prices have been coming down dramatically. If you're on AT&T, you can get an iPhone 3GS for just $99. Want an Android smartphone? The Motorola BackFlip is only $49.99 on AT&T. AT&T also offers several different BlackBerry smartphones that are free for new customers.

Verizon used to have some great budget smartphones, but they've recently changed their inventory to make room for the newer smartphones like the Motorola Droid X and the upcoming Droid 2. However, the LG Ally running Google Android is only $49.99 and the Motorola Devour running Google Android is just $79.99. Those are some practical options for medical students who wish to have an Android smartphone but who don't want to pay more than $100. The Palm Pre Plus is only $49.99 and the BlackBerry Curve is going for $29.99.

Looking for better deals? If you search on eBay, you'll probably find some great bargains as people try to sell their smartphones so that they can upgrade to better devices.

Epocrates ID® Infectious Disease Guide

In the recent Epocrates Pulse newsletter, the following was the Feature Focus:

Epocrates ID® Infectious Disease Guide
Use this handy feature to obtain treatment guidelines for hundreds of infectious diseases. Search by body system, drug, or bug to access empiric and specific treatment recommendations in seconds.

Available with Epocrates Rx Pro®, Epocrates Essentials, and Epocrates Essentials Deluxe premium products.

To learn more about Epocrates, visit http://www.epocrates.com

That strange Korean medical iPhone app: 마이닥터 - 내손안의 주치의

If you look on the list of medical apps on your iPhone or iPod touch, you'll see one called "마이닥터 - 내손안의 주치의!"

How do you pronounce that again? The Korean written language is a phonetic language. By that, I mean that you can read Korean words by sounding out the characters. So, a person could become very fluent at reading Korean out loud (even if the person doesn't know what the words mean).

So, 마이닥터 would be pronounced "ma - ee - doc - duh" ... or, simply: my doctor

Now, let's dig into this app to see what it's all about. Let's translate using Google Translate.

마이닥터의 다양하고 풍부한 추천병원 정보 및 의료건강 상식을 iPhone을 통해 언제 어디서나 실시간으로 제공 받을 수 있습니다.

My doctor recommended the hospital 's diverse and rich knowledge of information and health care in real time, anytime, anywhere via the iPhone will be offered .

마이닥터는 사용자들의 평가와 마이닥터의 전문 병원리뷰어를 톻한 인터넷 뉴스, 블로그, 웹문서등을 기반으로 진료과별 추천병원의 평가/리뷰/사진/지도/예약/상담기능 외에 다양한 건강의료정보를 서비스합니다.

My doctor evaluation and the users' My doctor's professional reviewers to the hospital tothan Internet news , blogs, Web -based care , and Helpful Hospital of broadcasting ratings / reviews / photos / maps / booking / consulting capabilities in addition to a variety of health care information services Must .

 

마이닥터 주요기능

My Doctor Key Features

 

1) 추천병원 : 진료과별 추천병윈의 상세정보와 전화/예약/상담/지도보기/찜하기등의 기능을 제공합니다.

1 ) Featured Hospital : Win a bottle of the recommended treatment of broadcasting and telephone details / booking / advice / map / jjimhagideungui offers .

 

2) 치료견적 : 진료과별 치료구분과 시술명 검색을 통해 시술과정, 치료법에 관련한 참고견적을 제공합니다.

2) Treatment Quote: identification and medical treatment of broadcasting via sisulmyeong treatment programs, treatment-related note provides estimates.

 

3) 의학백과 : 각종 질병명과 증상, 의학용어를 단어, 색인, 진료과별로 검색 할 수 있습니다.

3) medical free: jilbyeongmyeong with various symptoms, medical terms, words, indexed, you can search by departments.

 

4) 자가진단 : 시력, 색맹, 비만도등 30여 종류의 분류별 자가검진을 통해 건강한 생활습관을 제공합니다.

4) self-examination: visual acuity, color vision, have the ball more than 30 types of obesity Browse through self-examination to provide a healthy lifestyle.

 

5) 이벤트 : 마이닥터와 추천병원에서 진행하는 주기적인 이벤트에 참여하실 수 있습니다.

5) Event: My doctor recommended the hospital and participate in ongoing events can be periodic.

 

6) 마이메뉴 : 찜한병원, 예약정보, 상담내용, 참여이벤트등 마이닥터회원에게 제공되는 서비스입니다.

6) mayimenyu: dig the hospital, booking information, consultation, chamyeoyibenteudeung My doctor is a service provided to members.

 

마이닥터는 사용자가 보다 전문적이고 신뢰할 수 있는 의료정보에 쉽게 다가갈 수 있도록 사용자 의견을 수렴하고 진보된 서비스를 제공하기 위해 최선을 다하겠습니다.

 

My doctor that you are more professional and reliable medical information, allowing users easy access to advanced services, opinions, and we'll do our best to provide.

XtraCredit® CME App for your iPhone

XtraCredit® is an iPhone app that allows you to search for answers to clinical questions. You can earn CME while you do that and receive CME right at the "point of care." This isn't a free medical app, but you can test it for free and see if you like it. Here are some of the details:

Earn CME credit as you find answers online to your clinical questions. Use the iPhone® iPod Touch® application to document your clinical searches as a learning activity using your office or home computer. XtraCredit allows you to document your search activity via text or dictation (iPod Touch users must have a microphone for dictation).

Certified exclusively by the Lippincott Continuing Medical Education Institute, (LCMEI), a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, XtraCredit allows physicians to receive CME credit for online searches among hundreds of approved online resources including: Ovid's institutional aggregated research platform OvidSP, PubMed, National Guideline Clearing House, OMIM, and scores of others listed below. Credit is provided for this Internet Point-of-Care CME activity by the LCMEI. See summary of credit information in the iPhone to the right.

Test drive the app today through the iPhone App Store - your first use is free! Thereafter you will be charged an introductory price of $4.99 for each completed learning activity.

Speaking of Point of Care CME, here's a snippet that describes POC CME:

Internet Point of Care CME (IPoC) was approved as a format worthy of AMA PRA Category 1™ credit by the AMA in 2007. IPoC acknowledges that one way physicians learn is through the pursuit of an answer to a patient-oriented question. The AMA established the rules to govern this type of learning activity. XtraCredit® software facilitates the documentation of these valuable earning activities.

To learn more about XtraCredit, visit: http://www.xtracredit.com/iphone/

Additional medical apps for my wife's new Android smartphone

When my wife (a family physician) received her HTC Droid Incredible last week, I loaded the following medical apps on her Android smartphone:

• Epocrates
• Skyscape
• QuantiaMD

Here are some of the other medical apps I recently installed for my wife:

• MedPageToday
• Lexi-Comp
• QxMD

She may purchase a medical book through Unbound Medicine. She's using UpToDate via the super-fast mobile web browser on her HTC Droid Incredible.   If you haven't tested the web browser on this phone, you have to give it a try. It's phenomenal!

She's still waiting for an Android app from Medscape and ReachMD (so that she can listen to my Mobile Medical Minute on ReachMD). 

MedicalSmartphones.com mentioned in the LA Times

The Los Angeles Times mentioned MedicalSmartphones.com in this article titled, "A guide to healthcare apps for your smart phone."  Thanks for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important topic!

With thousands of apps to choose from on such topics as exercise, stress management, diet and medical reference, trustworthiness is at a premium.

I'd also like to thank all those who sent a Tweet about this! (including @doctorwes, @gastromom, @danhooker, and others)

Read the LA Times article here.

Skyscape RxDrugs for Android (free)

Skyscape RxDrugs for Android is a nice free medical app for those of you who are using an Android smartphone. You'll need to register for a free Skyscape account, but then you'll have a nice medical app on your Android smartphone.

Skyscape also offers Outline in Clinical Medicine (full edition) for free as well. Plus, Archimedes Medical Calculator is another free app that will come in handy in the clinical setting. If you're a medical student or resident, you'll want to have these free Skyscape apps on your smartphone.

Great deals on the Apple iPhone 3GS

As you may have suspected, AT&T now has some good deals on the iPhone 3GS and I'm sure that prices will continue to fall as customers choose the iPhone 4. This is great news for medical students and residents who are on a tight budget. If you don't need all the latest and greatest features found on the iPhone 4, then the 3GS is an exceptional phone that is very fast and still runs iOS 4 (and is capable of multitasking).

Tip: Go with a refurbished iPhone 3GS and you'll save even more.

I think I'll buy the Motorola Droid X

OK, I admit that I thought I'd be buying the HTC Droid Incredible. However, I had a chance to get my hands on the Droid X and I was so impressed that I've decided that my next phone will be the Motorola Droid X.

When will I upgrade? In September when I'm eligible for an upgrade.

My wife recently got the HTC Droid Incredible, and although it's a great smartphone, the battery life isn't very impressive if you're using the phone heavily. You can change some settings to improve your battery life or you can purchase an extended battery, so the Incredible is still a great smartphone for people who don't want to carry something as large as the Droid X.

Motorola is also coming out with the Droid 2, a newer version of the existing Droid slider that includes a physical QWERTY keyboard. I think I'd rather go with a slate that has a larger screen, but maybe I'll change my mind after I see the Droid 2. For now, I'm anticipating an upgrade to the Droid X in less than 2 months.

My wife got her HTC Droid Incredible

I probably had more fun setting it up for her. The more I spend with the HTC Droid Incredible, the more I realize that Android will quickly emerge as the dominating smartphone OS. I am really impressed by the way Android integrates elements of your Gmail/Google account, Facebook, and other elements of social media. Given that my wife and I both actively use Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar, the Android OS is a true winner for people like us.

The HTC Droid Incredible is a very fast phone. The browser opens web pages very quickly compared to most older smartphones. It's a great size and you won't be disappointed by this device. The Motorola Droid X is also a very fast smartphone, but the Droid X may be too big for some people.

After I pulled the HTC Droid Incredible out of the box, I went right to the Android Marketplace so that I could download and install some medical apps for my wife (who's a family physician). What apps did I download and install?

I started with these free medical apps:  Epocrates, Skyscape, and QuantiaMD

I'll be installing a few more apps for her over the weekend.

U.S. Government making mobile apps for smartphones

When's the last time you visited: http://apps.usa.gov/ to look at the latest mobile apps from the U.S. government?

If you visit that site, you'll find several pages of mobile apps like:

• Product Recalls
• My TSA
• The White House
• BMI Calculator
• MedlinePlus Mobile
• FBI's Most Wanted
• My Food-a-Pedia
• UV Index

Also, if you're rotating through a VA hospital, make sure to tell your patients that they should download and install the Veterans Affairs Mobile app. Actually, the VA Mobile app is not really an app. It's a mobile website that you can access by visiting: http://m.va.gov/

If you're a medical student and you're about to rotate through the VA, make sure you get familiar with the VA resources so that you'll impress your senior residents and attendings.

Do you remember your first smartphone?

What was your first smartphone? Some of you were early adopters and you may have purchased a Palm Treo 180 back in 2002. Maybe you waited until 2002 so that you could have a color screen and you bought the Palm Treo 270 or 300.  Do you remember the name of the company that made these devices? Handspring.

If you were a true early adopter, then maybe you had the Nokia 9000 Communicator.  The Nokia 9000 Communicator was used by Val Kilmer when he played Simon Templar in the 1997 remake of The Saint

My first smartphone was a Palm Treo 700wx. I had been a long-time Pocket PC user and I was migrating from an HP iPaq. Your first smartphone was probably running Palm OS, right?

There are so many young people who will remember the Apple iPhone 3GS as their first smartphone. What a difference to compare that device to some of these old devices! Wow, I used a smartphone back in the dark ages.

Motorola CHARM running Android

The Motorola CHARM is an atypical Android smartphone.Why is it atypical? It looks like a BlackBerry, it has a QWERTY keyboard, and it also has a touch screen. It's rather square and blocky, so people probably won't mistake the CHARM as a BlackBerry.

If you're thinking about an Android smartphone but you don't want to rely on the on-screen touch keyboard, then maybe you should visit your local T-Mobile store or kiosk and see what you think about the Motorola CHARM.  The CHARM runs Android and also includes MOTOBLUR.

Speak your email and your smartphone will compose it for you

Does your smartphone do this? Speak your email message and the smartphone will convert your speech to text and compose it for you.

As voice recognition capabilities improve on these mobile devices, we'll soon be speaking all of our commands and messages right into our phones. Who needs a keyboard, right? The days of those QWERTY keyboards are nearing an end as speech recognition improves.

This video shows how the new Motorola Droid X running Android will convert your speech to email:

2010 mHealth Summit Attracts Leaders in Wireless Health Research and Technology

Press Release:

2010 mHealth Summit Attracts Leaders in Wireless Health Research and Technology As Event Sponsors

Washington, D.C. (July 06, 2010) – Industry leaders Abbott, Microsoft Research, Pfizer, Qualcomm, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Skype and Verizon Wireless have joined the 2010 mHealth Summit as sponsors, the conference organizers announced today.

The 2010 mHealth Summit, a partnership of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, the National Institutes of Health and the mHealth Alliance, will connect leaders in health, government, the private sector, academia and not-for-profit organizations to advance discussion and decision-making related to the intersection of mobile technology, health practice and research, and policy in the United States and abroad. The conference will be held November 8-10 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

As the Summit date nears a diverse group of sponsors is offering their support, from leading charitable organizations, to pharmaceutical and technology companies, wireless carriers and media groups.

World Congress 2nd Annual Leadership Summit on mHealth

Just when you think you can't keep up with all the mHealth conferences this year, there's another one I'd like to highlight. This one is the "World Congress 2nd Annual Leadership Summit on mHealth" and it's in my favorite city: Boston.

Here's a description:

The World Congress is pleased to announce its 2nd Annual Leadership Summit on mHealth.  The purpose of this conference is to provide the emerging mHealth eco-system (i.e. providers, payers, policy-makers, device manufacturers and telecomm carriers) with insight into the clinical efficiencies and business opportunities for integrating mobile technologies into the care delivery model.

The technology is maturing. The infrastructure is in place. Consumer interest and demand is on the increase and the outcomes-based case for mHealth is growing.  So if widespread adoption is to occur, the current fee-for-service reimbursement system needs adjustment or new payment models must be created that incent providers toward adoption.  For some time now, the industry has identified the business model issue as the sticking point -- Who will pay for mHealth? 

You can learn more about this event here.

SearchMedica on iPhone

Have you tried SearchMedica on your Apple iPhone?   It's a free medical app that you can easily download to your iPhone or iPod touch.

On your iPhone you can:

• Target searches to journal articles, evidence-based content, guidelines, clinical trials, or patient information
• Store the last 10 searches conducted on your iPhone with the Recent Searches option
• Quickly load articles in a format designed for the iPhone
• View landscape or portrait modes with automatic rotation
• Share the SearchMedica app with a friend via email
• Update new versions of SearchMedica automatically
• Compatible with iPhone OS 3.0 or later

Click here to download SearchMedica.

The Droid 2 is coming

Although Motorola has announced the new Droid X, there are rumors of an updated version of the Motorola Droid. This new "Droid 2" will be very similar to the current Droid, but it will have a larger, friendlier keyboard. So, if you want a slider that includes a usable QWERTY keyboard, the Droid 2 could be the device for you.

All the other major Android smartphones are being designed without a physical keyboard. If you can't stand the on-screen keyboard, then the Droid (or the Droid 2) could be your device. Current rumors seem to suggest that the Droid 2 will be released in August on Verizon Wireless. It should come loaded with Android 2.2 (also known as Froyo).