Tablets for 4th year?

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I've seen the threads talking about using tablets for years 1-3, but what about clinical year?

Does anyone use a tablet regularly? Know of classmates that use them? How do you/they integrate it into your routine? How helpful is it, or is it just one more thing you lug around but don't use? Should I just stick with bringing my macbook if/when i need a computer/notes?

I love technology, and I'd love to get a tablet. I just need to justify the purchase! I don't want to buy one at the beginning of 4th year and not get my money's worth!

I've seen people using them, but as far as I'm concerned, during the clinical rotations that I've done during the summers I quickly learned that it was impractical to carry my iPad around when I have to be in the wards a lot - just another thing I have to find a place for when I need to do treatments.

I ended up carrying and jotting notes and to-do items in a little spiral bound notebook that fits in my lab coat pocket and making my own written forms for history and physical exam, making templates for the common things and copy/pasting the templates into the computer record later then modifying with the info on my forms.

I really wanted to be able to use the iPad during clinics but for me it kinda existed in a weird space where it was less practical moment to moment than having a notebook to write in and less practical when I actually sat down to write records because I can copy/paste easier and type easier on my Macbook, then add in trying to lug it around and trying not to leave it in a random kennel and it just didn't work for me.

Like I said I've seen people using them though, so some people find them useful. They're probably just people who are more organized and deliberate than I tend to be.

Thanks for your reply! Do you think you would get more use out of a tablet that you can write on (Samsung Galaxy Note) or fit in your pocket (iPad Mini, Google Nexus 7)?

Originally Posted by GreennWhite

Thanks for your reply! Do you think you would get more use out of a tablet that you can write on (Samsung Galaxy Note) or fit in your pocket (iPad Mini, Google Nexus 7)?

I've been considering the pocket-sized route. Not so much for taking notes but more for looking stuff up on the fly in SA clinics. Then again, I have an iphone which has been working relatively well so far even if it is a PITA. I'll probably see how my first few SA rotations go and then reassess. LA rotations we don't have a wear a white coat, so it would just be one more thing to carry around, so probably less useful, I'm thinking.

The couple of times I've been down in the clinics on CE, anything that doesn't fit in your pocket is just a PITA to keep track of. Most students here seem to prefer pen and a small notebook, but if you can find a functional app for a smartphone or pocket tablet it might be worth it.

Personally, I haven't found a writing app on the samsung galaxy S3 that I actually like using, so I will probably go the pen/paper route (unless someone has a good suggestion...). However, a plus for having a smart phone in clinics, both VetPrep and ZukuReview have apps for smart phones that make it much easier to do practice questions in the small 5 minute down times.

I've got a smart phone, and will be getting a (smarter) phone in the next couple months. Perhaps I should go the route of the samsung note phone...hmm lots to think about.

And yeah, this will definitely not be something for large animals blocks. Thankfully i've only got 6 weeks of large animal!

Originally Posted by GreennWhite

And yeah, this will definitely not be something for large animals blocks. Unfortunately i've only got 6 weeks of large animal!

fixed :-P

I haven't seen anyone with a tablet yet. People use iPhones a lot, but I am doing just fine being a grumpy old (wo)man using books and calculators.

I just tried to put my iPad mini into my white coat pocket. It fit, but just barely. It's in a pretty reasonable case (http://shop.x-doria.com/products/dash-folio-1/410342) so I don't know how much thinner a case could be while still keeping it safe from accidental bumps and drops. It seems like it would be a little awkward. Which is a shame, 'cause I did consider using it for that. Unfortunately, it might still be too big to carry without it being cumbersome.

Oh yeah, I'll definitely be using my iPhone.

People use them to take pics of their patients' cage cards and stuff, at least cuts down on random stuff to write in the notebook.

I actually made a pretty good little pocket in my notebook with half notecards with procedures and drug doses and stuff written on them that I didn't use enough to memorize but used enough that I felt like I should have them easily accessible, and I already filled up one notebook in my 6 weeks in the VMTH + 2 weeks of externship that I used it for thus far so it was handy to just be able to take the notecards and put them in a new one.

Thanks for the input guys! I'm leaning more towards sticking with a smartphone, even though I *really* loved playing with the tablets in Staples and Best Buy! And the Samsung Note 2 Phone is enormous, so that is definitely out of the picture!

I have already bought one of those notecard packs with a big ring through them, since I'd heard they were really useful for drugs and patient info.

Has anyone tried the livescribe pens for clinics? I think they even make small notebooks now that would fit in a lab coat.
In theory they seem like a great idea but just wondering if anyone has experience with one...

Originally Posted by katryn

The couple of times I've been down in the clinics on CE, anything that doesn't fit in your pocket is just a PITA to keep track of. Mo.

Yeah. I've got my iphone with me all the time and it's great for looking stuff up, but I don't use it much to write stuff down. For that, I write in a small notebook.

I do know a number of students on rotation here at Virginia Tech that carry their iPads with them, but when they're using them (down time between patients to look stuff up or writing stuff down in rounds), I have my laptop out and am doing the same thing.

So using it on the fly (like an iphone for looking up content) might be tough if it doesn't fit in your pockets. But you can certainly use it during rounds or other times when you're staying in one place.

I only had a regular stupid phone and a small paper notebook. The notebook was really handy. But I wished I had an iphone. Would have made life a little bit easier.

Based on my experiences, a tablet would have been pretty impractical.

I've tried to carry my iPad around for rotations, and it's a big pain. I gave up after about 2 days and went with the small notebook route. I've got an iPhone with a bunch of vet apps that are pretty awesome.

I have the Google Nexus 7 and a Malgus stylus which fit in my lab coat pocket easily. There is an app called Lecture Notes that has good functionality for writing things down with your finger or witha stylus, and I think I will try to make this work fourth year. I really love the Nexus 7, it has great reviews, and is a lot more bang for your buck than the iPad mini. That being said, I am an Android fan, and like being able to manipulate my technology