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?

Smartphones as a "second brain" or "peripheral brain"

Back in the "old days," medical students and residents often relied on a pocket book and they referred to this as their "second brain" or "peripheral brain." This little book contained all the vital formulas, charts, tables, and clinical pearls that would help you survive the wards (and outpatient care as well).

Now, students and physicians rely on their smartphone as a second brain. The medical smartphone often contains critical medical apps such as drug references, medical database, medical calculators, conversion tools, algorithms, and much more. Plus, with a smartphone, you can easily get online. Once you have access to the Internet, then your brain is almost infinitely smarter (well, as least mine is).

So many healthcare professionals now depend on their smartphones. They couldn't live without their phone. They would feel naked - almost as if they're missing half their brain.