Do I really need a PDA?

[sz]

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Hey all!

I'm feeling a bit undecided about whether or not I really need a PDA during rotations. I know EVERYBODY carries one ... some even say its essential but I have to say I'm a bit skeptical. afterall, students and doctors did manage to survive before PDAs became all the rage.
Don't get me wrong, I love gadgets and would buy one in a heart beat if money was no object ... but I just don't want a $200+ organizer.
sorry ... this is a bit of a ramble. I guess I'm just asking ppl for their opinions on how important a PDA is and if I don't buy one will I be at a real disadvantage?

Any and all thought are appreciated!! Thanks.

 

[Gauss]

need one? no
sanford guide and tarascon should suffice
maybe wash manual, ferri - but you could use uptodate or mdconsult on your hospital's computers if they have it

 

[Jaded Soul]

need one? no
sanford guide and tarascon should suffice
maybe wash manual, ferri - but you could use uptodate or mdconsult on your hospital's computers if they have it

Yup, I completely agree.

 

[lf777]

Hi

Obviously I am biased as to whether you need a PDA. Let me answer by saying that you should try one for about a week and see if you like it. Maybe you'd rather have 2-3 small pocket books and a standard calendar !

lf

 

[sz]

thanks to all of you who wrote. I think I'm gonna tough it out w/o a PDA for a bit and see how it goes ...

 

[hitmanng]

I think having a PDA is a matter of time savings not need. I can look up information a lot faster in my PDA then having to have 2-3 books. It is also a scientific calculator and with things like medmath or medcalc you have all the equations and can fill in the blank calculate things. It is far from a necessity as people lived a long time without then and with little notebooks with chicken scratch. Now I can beam my chicken scratch to friends and they don't have to redo the work.
Just a thought.
Hitmanng

 

[mikedc813]

I'm going to be a 1st year and want to get a pda to replace the one I lost last year. However, I don't want to be told in 2 years that I need to buy a new one because mine is not compatible, or something like that. I was looking at the Dell Axium X30 with WiFi, and I can't imagine how that could be not sufficient for rotations in 2 years. Any thoughts?

 

[TommyGunn04]

if it weren't for my PDA, I wouldn't know half the things I know! Every time something new comes up during rounds, in conference, etc., I pull out my PDA and look it up in Stedman's, 5-minute clinical conference, or ePocrates. I almost always find it in one of those places, and that way I'm not sitting there in the dark when it's not appropriate to just ask! For me, it's made a HUGE difference in my experience on the wards. I use it constantly, and there's no way I could carry around that much information in my pockets in the form of books...absolutely NO WAY! Sure, everyone did fine without PDA's, but why handicap yourself from the start if the technology is so readily available? It's truly a worthwhile investment.

I'm using a Palm m505, which you could get refurbished from palm for about $100 now. It's color, has an unbelievably long battery life (we're talking weeks to months!), but has less main memory than you need for programs like 5MCC and Stedman's. So I bought a big memory card and bought these programs from Skyscape, because they support running the programs right off the card. It works great! There's absolutely no need to spend $500.

 

[kinetic]

PDAs are absolutely non-essential. What do you guys think medical students did before 2000? Haul around Harrison on a chain around their waist? Get real. The only thing most medical students use PDAs for is taking photos, listening to MP3s, and playing silly games. Oh, I forgot; it also allows them to stare studiously down at their hands with a furrowed brow while the resident is looking for someone to perform some scutwork.

 

[mikedc813]

I think my school actually requires 3rd and 4th years to have one. Go figure

 

[Scooby Moo]

Don't get me wrong, I love gadgets and would buy one in a heart beat if money was no object ... but I just don't want a $200+ organizer.

This sums up my feelings exactly. I've gotten by with just pocket manuals and index cards so far (so I would say that having one isn't necessary), but if a handful of $100 bills fell from the sky... 😀