blackberry v iphone v palm for EM software?

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I'm thinking of getting a PDA for residency (didn't use one in med school). I love iphone for its features, but have been concerned that it doesn't have enough capability for medical software. Did a search through the tech forum but didn't find anything specific to EM.

So... hoping to pick your collective brains here. Any recs on what would be best in terms of medical software for EM? What software do you consider MUSTS for EM purposes, and are any of these not available on/not compatible with any of the above devices?
 
I nominate Palm. EM Rules is free, and insanely useful. I also use Epocrates, DxSaurus (differential dx tool), CinciACS, ABGPro (though limited in its usefulness), and UpToDate on my palm. Sure, you may have to carry around an extra piece of electronics, but it beats chipping away at battery life.

I'm going to wait for my education money to spring for PEPID.
 
I feel like i should be a sales person for palm by now because I've responded to a few threads about PDAs with the suggestion of waiting until this summer for the release of the Palm Pre. There's already some emulation software that's been released to make programs that run on the old (current) palm operating system actually work on the new phone. I imagine this will be useful until the software is available for the new Web OS that Palm had developed.

Here's a link:
http://www.palm.com/us/products/phones/pre/index.html
 
First a disclaimer. I have been a palm user for many years.

The iphone/itouch has a ton of medical software available. Some are free apps and some are paid. They are well done with a good UI. I am planning on waiting to see the Pre before I make a decision, but I must say I have been very impressed with the itouch I have been playing with.

Blackberry has recently opened up their code to developers to try and take some of the market share that the smartphones occupy by allowing 3rd party apps to be developed for their devices. It remains to be seen if there is enough demand in medicine for developers to put a significant effort into this area.

I would also recommend finding out if there is a dominant device at the institution you are going to be working at. You will have support available internally (if not officially, enough users who are comfortable with the device to help) and people who share apps and potentially develop inhouse apps and interface with your institution's EMR.
 
Go with the palm (centro) or wait for the palm pre which has backwards compatibility with all the older palm apps. The windows mobile phones are just too slow, unreliable and sluggish for me -- palms work great and you can use them with one hand (try that iphone!). The keypad rocks and the centro actually fits in your shirt pocket.
 
omniatlas said:
Go with the palm (centro) or wait for the palm pre which has backwards compatibility with all the older palm apps. The windows mobile phones are just too slow, unreliable and sluggish for me -- palms work great and you can use them with one hand (try that iphone!). The keypad rocks and the centro actually fits in your shirt pocket.
Click to expand...


I use my iPhone with one hand.

Seriously though, I bought the iPhone because it offered what I felt I needed. You can get epocrates (now the full version) Pepid, but I have heard complaints about it, use Uptodate over the web, along with countless other apps that you can DL for free or a small fee (0.99 cents to about $9.99). Problem is, most of the programs, like Uptodate, need the web to function, which can be a problem inside a hospital. The programs also can be very sluggish. Other than that, I think it's a great phone first and if you are looking to use it recreationally first and as a piece of work equipment second, I highly recommend it. That's why I went with it. Especially over ANY blackberry device.

If you are stictly looking for using it for work primarily get a palm based product. And for what you spend on a decent palm, you might as well get a phone. I agree with most that you should wait to see what the Pre is like, but then again, look at that POS Storm that just came out. I don't like the Centro, because I have fat fingers, but most of the other palm phones are pretty sweet, and would have probably gotten one if the iPhone wasn't an option.
 
Drawing Dead said:
I use my iPhone with one hand.

Seriously though, I bought the iPhone because it offered what I felt I needed. You can get epocrates (now the full version) Pepid, but I have heard complaints about it, use Uptodate over the web, along with countless other apps that you can DL for free or a small fee (0.99 cents to about $9.99). Problem is, most of the programs, like Uptodate, need the web to function, which can be a problem inside a hospital. The programs also can be very sluggish.
Click to expand...

Yeah that was the problem with the iphone -- programs like the ones skyscape require you to buy a 1 year subscription; you don't own the software unlike the palm/winmo counterparts.

I use dynamed (uptodate) on my palm which is great because I don't need online access.

I think the coolest part of my palm though is chatteremail which allows imap synching with gmail and i get *instant* notification of e-mails akin to blackberry, but I don't pay a stupid subscription fee. And the best part is I've configured chatter e-mail to only notify me of e-mails from 7 am - 5 pm so I don't get disturbed in the evening 🙂

It works out great -- I own the phone, I don't pay stupid amounts for data I'll never need (my plan comes with 100 Mb/month), and I'm not on a contract.
 
I agree not paying for a contract is pretty sweet....I am scared of jumping from a basic verizon plan of $39 to a monthly iphone bill of $82 or so with data. That said, it will be nice to have turnbyturn gps, internet, etc when i am not hooked to wifi... its the price you pay...

bout the iphone being sluggish with those programs....I dont think that will be the same with the processors it sounds like they will be putting in the new ones in june.
d
 
I also agree in waiting until the summer if you can. I'm looking at the iPhone, but the Palm Pre looks like it could be REALLY nice. I think it's gonna have a capacitive touchscreen (like the iPhone), so I expect it's physical interface to be just as nice as the iPhone...... Part of the problem with the Storm is that clickable screen thing on top of the interface bugs/lagging it experienced when first launched.

Glad to see it may be backward compatible with older Palm software, that was a question I had. I like how Palm seems to handle notifications and contacts MUCH better than the iPhone.
 
dgriss1 said:
That said, it will be nice to have turnbyturn gps, internet, etc when i am not hooked to wifi... its the price you pay...
Click to expand...

I've heard the GPS on the new iphone isn't worth it -- it doesn't have full fledge GPS features? For those with Palm pda/phones you can get a Garmin Mobile bluetooth device addon -- you basically have the same garmin software which is used on their stand alone devices (mobile xt). I find it quite cool having Garmin on my centro. I've also loaded up MobiTV on my Palm and I can watch american tv on my phone -- quite amazing considering its live and I'm in australia.

I have the 1st gen iphone -- didn't really seem very different from the 2nd gen except for a thinner profile, 'GPS', larger flash disc space, and a 'better' camera.
 
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The most important software for your 'phone' is itunes, so you can plug in and have music when you are working nights... 😀
 
The GSM version of the pre should be hitting soon after the sprint version.

I'm thinking of selling my iphone -- I'll settle with the palm pre + ipod touch when it comes out.
 
i am also confused what to buy. im a 2nd year medical student.. and i need a phone that can read ebooks or any medical applications.. so which is the best? iphone 3gs/blackberry bold/ palm pre?? help...
 
getting the new iphone tomorrow for clinic rotations next year. I have been looking through the app store...lots of helpful apps..I think the iphone seems to be the way to go right now...
plus you got music, etc etc

pre is not getting good reviews at all right now...

do some research, ie cnet.com, etc


good luck
 
I'm getting the iPhone upgrade tomorrow as well (my wife's original is giving up the ghost, so I get a new one and she gets mine).

The big gripe I have about medical apps (PEPID and ePocrates) on my current 3G iPhone is that they are slow loading.

I'll have an answer about how fast the new "3GS, the S is for speed" iphone is soon.

Take care,
Jeff
 
Jeff698 said:
I'm getting the iPhone upgrade tomorrow as well (my wife's original is giving up the ghost, so I get a new one and she gets mine).

The big gripe I have about medical apps (PEPID and ePocrates) on my current 3G iPhone is that they are slow loading.

I'll have an answer about how fast the new "3GS, the S is for speed" iphone is soon.

Take care,
Jeff
Click to expand...

The reviews say it programs are loading quite a bit faster with the 3gs.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/iphone-3g-s-review/
video:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/engadget/videos/449/106.568

I have been trying to figure out this whole iphone deal and how to set it up over at macrumors.com and one thing I have noticed is that there are going to be a lot of men with new 3gs's and wives with 3g's tomorrow🙄😉
seems to be the trend that the boys insist on the toys and their wives get the handdowns...funny

I am looking forward to getting it tomorrow...preordered with ATT...going to miss verizon though...

also, from what I have read, it seems PEPID has a big time slowness factor on its own so that might not change??

d
 
I dunno, ever since I got my iphone my Palm TX has been sitting forgotten in a corner of my room. I think the iphone does everything you need and more. I have the 3G, and I have skyscape and epocrates for free (no subscription is required), and will get pepid again after my next paycheck 😍. I have found my iphone to be invaluable for internship for several reasons

1. Ease of texting. I have it unlimited and keep up with my family and friends while in the hospital. I even would text back and forth with my co-interns during long, boring Neuro rounds, all while looking like I was studying :meanie:

2. The apps. I can check facebook, the daily news, pay my bills, practice and use medical spanish, find a place to eat, and track my calories (so I lost rather than gained weight during internship), not to mention look up drug dosages and diseases

3. The phone. Can call grandma on her b-day or call a consultant on rounds while having only one electronic in my pocket

4. Music. Nothing like listening to music while working on your signout, or plugging in the iphone to speakers when a cool attending is on (ie Roja)

5. Camera on hand. Taking pictures with other residents or of rashes - useful!

Having an all-in-one feature like the iphone has changed my life, and I love it! 😀 I'm sure it depends on the service provider as well, but I'd say at least half the docs in the hospital (most I know) have the iphone.

P.S. PEPID is worth the money, especially for those early in training, walks you through procedures and everything. Try it!
 
deuist said:
I'm hoping the "book allowance" I'm getting from my hospital in two weeks can go towards PEPID.
Click to expand...

It did at my program. That's how I paid for my first year of it.

Take care,
Jeff
 
Jeff698 said:
The big gripe I have about medical apps (PEPID and ePocrates) on my current 3G iPhone is that they are slow loading.

I'll have an answer about how fast the new "3GS, the S is for speed" iphone is soon.
Click to expand...
On my new 3G S 🙂D😀😀) ePocrates loads way faster, going from annoying to barely noticeable.

Another big improvement is Maps, which used to take forever to be ready and now comes up almost instantly.
 
Just got the 3G S on Friday and so far I have no complaints. This is my first iPhone so I can't really compare it to the 3G besides the little I've played around with them here and there..... but so far it is very snappy.

Have epocrates, skyscape and a few other med programs on and have no problems just jumping into epocrates to look up a dose real quick. Certainly quicker/easier than when I was doing that on my old windows PDA, and on that it even runs it in the background.

I really don't think no having backing app capability is going to be a huge issue on this one. Sure, the one exception would be running something like pandora or streaming audio app in the background while doing something else but I just don't think I'll need to use it that way. And I don't have to worry about what's currently running in the background and closing things before it gets bogged down.
 
My wonderful wife got my the 3Gs for Father's Day (OK, perhaps at my ever so subtle suggestion).

It is MUCH faster than my previous 3G. It loads ePocrates and PEPID very fast. The speed is now just as fast, if not faster, than on my beloved Treo.

Big thumbs up! 👍👍👍👍

Take care,
Jeff
 
Just made the switch to an iphone. Surprised to see how much more expensive pepid is for this platform vs. palm/blackberry (which is what i used my first two years). This phone is sweet!
 
3gs is running great...for the most part

only ? I have is about the handset volume. i fid myself unable to hear the other person on the line if I am not in a quiet area. I was in my truck and then wholefoods the other day and it was hard to hear. Are you guys volume's sort of weak both speaker and normal phone mode? I do have a case on there, I have to take it off and see if it makes it any better....
thoughts? Should I got to the apple store and compare to make sure it is not the phone?
cheers
 
Are you iphone users bringing a battery charger to the hospital? i don't see how a iphone power user could go without one seeing there is no way to replace the battery.
 
HunterGatherer said:
Are you iphone users bringing a battery charger to the hospital? i don't see how a iphone power user could go without one seeing there is no way to replace the battery.
Click to expand...

Nope. My days are 14 hours and I almost never have to charge my iphone. I don't use 3G networks (they're not available where I live and I don't really need them) and I don't use the iPod app much. I do, however, use my text messaging, email, browser and especially PEPID frequently throughout the day.

My battery will easily last all day with that type of use. I do, however, have a charger in my car but primarily used for my iPod. I reserve the iPod for listening to my CME and music on the road so that saves some iPhone battery life.

Take care,
Jeff
 
HunterGatherer said:
Are you iphone users bringing a battery charger to the hospital? i don't see how a iphone power user could go without one seeing there is no way to replace the battery.
Click to expand...

On my IM rotation now and have 12+ hour days so I'll usually have the charger cable with me in my backpack I bring in or at least in the car. I went ahead and got the Mophie Juice Pack air.... basically a hard case with built-in external battery. It really only makes the iphone a little thicker but will come pretty close to doubling your battery life, so I'm kind of hoping that help get through a heavy use sort of day.
 
HunterGatherer said:
Are you iphone users bringing a battery charger to the hospital? i don't see how a iphone power user could go without one seeing there is no way to replace the battery.
Click to expand...

I haven't had any problems getting 12-16 hours of use from my 3G, and the S is supposed to have even better battery life. When I have to do more than that I might bring a charger (or I might be too busy to be using my phone much?).
 
do you guys work with all the "no cellphone" signs that are in hospitals now adays? Is that bs or for real? Do you have to exit the ED to make a call? Are these signs up for the patients? What is the deal...? Fill the newbie in!
 
Jeff698 said:
My wonderful wife got my the 3Gs for Father's Day (OK, perhaps at my ever so subtle suggestion).

It is MUCH faster than my previous 3G. It loads ePocrates and PEPID very fast. The speed is now just as fast, if not faster, than on my beloved Treo.

Big thumbs up! 👍👍👍👍

Take care,
Jeff
Click to expand...

So the prior complaints with PEPID are gone now with the 3Gs? I ask because I'm strongly considering to make the jump to an iphone. This is a very scary thought for someone who has been using a palm for close to a decade now and a loyal treo user for the past 4 years. But the phone looks great and it sounds like it can finally run my medical software.
 
Hercules said:
So the prior complaints with PEPID are gone now with the 3Gs? I ask because I'm strongly considering to make the jump to an iphone. This is a very scary thought for someone who has been using a palm for close to a decade now and a loyal treo user for the past 4 years. But the phone looks great and it sounds like it can finally run my medical software.
Click to expand...

I don't know that I would say completely gone. The speed with the prior versions of iPhone were problematic for me. PEPID is now as fast on the iPhone as it was on my old Treo. Keep in mind that these programs aren't running in the background on the iPhone like they do on Palms. They start up each time from scratch. There was a HUGE speed bump between my 3G and 3GS, in my experience.

The remaining complaints, for me, deal with the requirement for a cellular connection to use the interaction checker and calculators. AT&T has improved in Round Rock, where my ED is, and I can now sometimes get a signal. I also have other medical calculators on my phone that don't need the connection.

I still hold out hope that PEPID will make the interface a little more iPhone-like, asthetically, and stop the reliance on a cellular connection. In the meantime, though, I'm much happier.

Take care,
Jeff
 
Why i phone or palm or blackberry. Try windows mobile. The AT&T is going to launch htc touch pro 2 at low cost.
 
wayforthenext said:
Why i phone or palm or blackberry. Try windows mobile. The AT&T is going to launch htc touch pro 2 at low cost.
Click to expand...

I have the HTC Touch Pro 1. love the phone as it was the first phone to combine wifi, internet, camera, infrared, bluetooth, media player capabilities, laptop tethering, keyboard + touch screen, and unlocked GPS. It takes forever to load anything and battery life is not great for power users. Touch pro 2 would have to be 2x faster to make it practical for me to use. Carrying my old palm and HTC Touch Pro is much more practical. At least I stopped feeling the need to cook roms like I used to on the 6700 Apache and 6800 Mogul.

They still using that stupid sprint phone jack and recharge jack? 😡
 
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