PDAs and residency

[mmynameisfrank]

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I'm a graduating med student matching (hopefully) in IM next year. Many of my friends in business, finance, etc have palm pilots/blackberries/whatever provided by their employers, often with data plans for mobile internet access. It would seem like this kind of thing would be handy for residents (for software like Epocrates and for things like order entry and text paging while sitting in noon conference or grand rounds . . .) Does anybody know if this is something some programs already offer and/or do you think they will in the future? Just curious (and wondering if I should go ahead and invest in one myself . . . .), thanks!

 

[indiamacbean]

some programs offer them. I think that as time goes on you find you need less and less to function well as an intern and even less as a senior resident (I assume). It seems like pocket medicine +/- ucsf hospitalist handbook covers the bases fairly well and then some sort of drug program. if the program you match at has easy computer access to uptodate then you are pretty much set. when I started internship, I carried around a ton of stuff and had all sorts of programs on my PDA. at this point I have come to realize the most important thing is a black pen and a cup of coffee. the rest is really optional.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

at this point I have come to realize the most important thing is a black pen and a cup of coffee. the rest is really optional.

On a good day, the pen is optional also.