Hi. Since the start of internship is getting close, I want to soon buy a handbook (to keep in my whitecoat). The two I'm debating between is the UCSF Hospitalist Handbook and Mass General Pocket Medicine.

I've come across many that rave about each book, so I want to see which one people here recommend. Or...are they pretty exclusive so that owning/using both is ok?

Thanks.

Hi. Since the start of internship is getting close, I want to soon buy a handbook (to keep in my whitecoat). The two I'm debating between is the UCSF Hospitalist Handbook and Mass General Pocket Medicine.

I've come across many that rave about each book, so I want to see which one people here recommend. Or...are they pretty exclusive so that owning/using both is ok?

Thanks.


Do a search. There was a recent thread on this very question.

I've used MGH Pocket Medicine as a 4th year med student and love it. It's a great way to quickly review your EBM. I haven't used the other one so can't comment on it.

If you have a PDA get 5-min consult or some equivalent software instead of the books. The last thing you need is another 6oz in your pocket-tearing mass of paperwork and books.

Pocket Medicine is freaking huge and has too much non-urgent stuff that you can look up in UpToDate. Get Tarascon's Critical Care book -- if it's not in there, you have time to look it up and it fits in your shirt pocket. It also has a better and more concise discussion of critical meds than any other reference I've ever used.