PDA uses for M1

[drboris]

Hey guys,

I am thinking of buying a pda for my first year. I never used to use organizers until my second year in college, when I realized there was just too much stuff going on to keep it all in mind. So, do you guys think there is a point to buy a really good and expensive PDA, one of those than is ms word and excel compatible? Is there a need for this in M1?

Right now I am planning on getting something along the lines of Palm Zire 31 (~$150) and just using it to organize and schedule things. Then, at the end of M2 I would buy a really good PDA for the wards.

What do you guys think??

Thanks in advance

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[KyGrlDr2B]

For first year, you'd probably just use it for scheduling and maybe a dictionary. Second year you could probably use it more, depending on your curriculum (pbl classes will require you to look up stuff, etc). Then of course, 3rd year you'll need it more, or so I hear. 😉

 

[roja]

I love my PDA. However, the imaginations that one has for what you will use it for in med school are grossly overrated.

In general most people I know use thier pda for a few things: sceduling, epocrates (drug database...dont' start third year without it.. the free version is enough) and games. (kills time) Patient databases are to time consuming to use and your patient turn over is to fast. Most people don't read on them as we are all to addicted to paper and texts.

I use it for the memo section and put a few key things in it: PORT scores, SIRS criteria. Thats about it.

 

[kaos]

What's the dif between a PDA and a Clie?

 

[Varblade]

A PDA is a personal digital assistant.. i.e all the palm's, pocket pc's etc
A CLIE is a family of PDA's under the brandname Sony!

PDA's are real useful as long as you're the type who likes to keep organised and ahead of the game + you use computers a lot.

Varblade

 

[drboris]

Would a Palm Zire 31 accomodate epocrates (that's the med dictionary, right?)?

 

[Jaded Soul]

Would a Palm Zire 31 accomodate epocrates (that's the med dictionary, right?)?

ePocrates is a drug reference program. You'll have no use for it before the clinical years. Their web site will tell you what specs are needed to run it.

There's really not much use for a PDA during the first 2 years. You think you'll use it for scheduling (like I did), but you won't because your school will probably give you printed calendars with your lecture schedules. Anything you buy now might also be outdated by the time third year comes around. Save the money now and get a kick-ass one right before third year starts.

 

[DOctorJay]

epocrates is a drug database. all of the PDAs will accomodate this program. go with a Palm OS version PDA though because they are much cheaper and have more free programs (epocrates is free for palm, $$$ for windows). just about all Palm products now come with word, excel, pwpoint already in it. if you buy the full sized portable keyboard it is very convenient (aka poor man's laptop for documents). i love my palm and have the keyboard for it, took all my notes in grad school on it as i type very fast. as i've said before many times on SDN i would recommend the palm tungsten E for it's low cost ($199), lots of memory, great screen and all around functionality. i really want to buy this one now but my m500 is good enough to last me through M1 and 2, so i'll save my money now for something better when M3 comes around.

if you really spend some time with it, get to learn all that it can do, and download some of the programs you'll use it far more than the average person.

also, this topic has been discussed fairly extensively on these boards so make sure to do a search to get even more info.

-J

 

[Firebird]

ePocrates is a drug reference program. You'll have no use for it before the clinical years.

QUOTE]

Not even for Med Pharm?

 

[drboris]

what is the name of the medical dictionary that can be downloaded to a PDA? Isn't there a need for a med dict during M1 and M2

 

[G0S2]

I believe it is Stedman's. http://www.stedmans.com/product.cfm/320/215

 

[norouz1383!!!]

i was looking over the pdas and it seems like most of them don't have internet capability unless they're in the very expensive range. the only exception to this was the dell axim30 which was about $250.00

do u think i should get this one? or something else?

for me it is really important for it to be able to go online.

thank you

 

[pikachu]

I can only think of one: text twist during lecture - 🙂

I have a zire 71 and am lost without it on the wards. However, I don't think I would have had much use for it in years 1 and 2. The zire 71 has a digital camera in it, so if some technological inferiority complex COMPELS you to buy a pda as a first year, you might find some use for the camera and the scheduler. However if you wait the 2 years then the technology will almost certainly be cheaper and you will get more value for the price. Also, I think wireless internet will be more accessible as well. As of right now, if you want wireless internet on the PDA you have to pay the big bucks, and service is spotty at best at least in most places.

 

[NateatUC]

ePocrates is a drug reference program. You'll have no use for it before the clinical years.

Not even for Med Pharm?

I used epocrates quite a bit for Pharm second year. Its also nice if you want to find out what exactly it is that you or your friends and family are taking.

I'd also highly recommend a program called Eponyms - if you ever need to look up a term or disease that's got someone's name (say Virchow's node or von Recklinghausen's disease) its a database of every one of them.

I also used mine for scheduling - the school made our class schedule available for download and syncing with Palm Desktop / Outlook, so that made it really convenient. They also have their own version of AvantGo that will let us download our student directory and other info.

 

[mikedc813]

Does anyone have experience with any of Dell's PDAs? I will be a 1st year in August and was thinking about getting the DellX30 with WiFi and Bluetooth. I realize it won't be necessary, but I am the type who needs a scheduler, I like all sorts of gadgets/electronics, and I figure I can use it throughout med school.

Also any PDA recommendations are welcome! Thanks 👍

 

[G0S2]

I just ordered a Tungsten E from www.pdamd.com since it comes with the ePocrates Clinical Suite ($100/year). It was a good deal at $225, would be $325. It does not have WiFi or Bluetooth.

 

[BigO]

I'm about to start my rotations and I am absolutely clueless about pda's - I bought a Toshiba pocket pc. I have not a clue where to get programs let alone which ones to get. There are tons of palm programs floating around but nothing for my pda. I appreciate any help. Thanks

 

[Jaded Soul]

Not even for Med Pharm?

Doesn't really have the depth you'll need for pre-clinical pharm. It's greatest utility lies dosing and finding specific drug-drug interactions. Good also for translating between trade names and generic names, which was one of the things that can drive you crazy at first--especially when the residents and attendings know drugs only by their trade names.

 

[Runtita]

Does anyone have experience with any of Dell's PDAs?

I have the Axim x3 (no wifi/bluetooth). I really like it. Not having started school yet, I don't have any of the programs mentioned here. But I do use it to keep up with my schedule and contacts, and to play games.

I got the plain x3 because I'm not a fan of combined electronic things (like TV/VCR combos). If one thing breaks, you're screwed.

The great thing about PDAs is all of the freeware/shareware available. You can get anything online.