Technology PDAs for residency

[docviral]

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Hello everyone,
I am going to start Internal Medicine residency from July.so I wanna ask you about PDAs.My residency program doesnt give PDA.

Is it essential to buy PDA?

Which is better PDA with cell phone or basic PDA?

I phone is a good option.but I don't wanna buy as we have to buy data plan with it which costs additional $30 per month.I want PDA with WiFi.

I went through different website .I found following PDA phones good. palm treo, T mobile dash,black berry curve... etc.....

Please share your personal experiences about PDAs.That will help me to choose a right PDA.
Thanks.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Moving to Technology Forum...

 

[DOctorJay]

before writing off the iphone/blackberry find out if your hospital system has a discount for using a particular carrier. my hospital gives us a 24% discount at AT&T which decreases my cost significantly so I can afford my iphone with data.

next best would be a blackberry.

if you absolutely can't do a phone combo your best bet would be ipod touch which has wifi access and will run almost all the same programs as iphone.

 

[DrJosephKim]

I suggest using a smartphone that also has Wi-Fi. There are many topics in terms of operating systems, form factor, applications, etc. The important thing is to make sure you keep it digitally locked. I also suggest choosing a device that utilizes a touch-screen interface.

 

[generic]

I just got an Ipod touch (didn't want a smartphone because of data plan costs). Love it!

 

[TMP-SMX]

I'm personally just hoping the new iPhone is released in June instead of July. If it is July I'm hoping it is the first week of July as I start rotations on the 6th.

 

[coolmavs]

So, I am also looking for a new phone with a new contract, since I am currently not under any contract. I will be starting my internal medicine residency this July.

What I am looking for is a cellphone, which is also a PDA and which allows me to use the essential medical applications, at the lowest cost. Isn't that what we all want 😛

So, I am not a big ipod user, and I don't want a separate PDA and cell phone.

The problem with the iphone is that, most of the medical applications have to be renewed each year, unlike palm and blackberry, in which we can pay the fees just once and continue to use it, without the need for renewing it each other. So, in addition to the extremely costly plan, working to about 100$ each month, we also have to buy the medial applications each year for the iphone. Also, all these applications, are internet accessible or they are loaded to the phone. I ask you this, since, if you are in a part of the hospital that does not have internet access, then we may not be able to access the necessary application.

Blackberry storm, is the only touchscreen blackberry (is that right?) the problem is that it does not have wifi capability. So you have to use the dataplan, right? But, like iphone, dont we have the unlimited dataplan for $30 in this as well? Also, are the applications loaded onto the phone or accessed through internet?

Any pther phone+PDA that should be considered?

I have more questions, but dont want to make this post too long, so will wait for some answers before I post more questions.

 

[TMP-SMX]

My iPhone plan will be $75 a month. I wish my school had a discount on the rate but they don't. On the plus side, epocrates essentials is free while we are in school along with a lot of other medical apps. I have the minimum plan with 450 minutes, data, and 200 texts. I'll probably be on the border with minutes because unfortunately my fiancée is still with Sprint so I may have to upgrade to the higher minute plan for $20 more. Fortunately though there are rollover minutes so I'll likely be switching between the 450 minute plan and the higher minute plan when needed after saving up some minutes.

As for the apps, they are on the phone and not the internet. That's not the case for the free apps which require internet access. By the way, I don't know where you are getting the one time deal for blackberry or the Palm smartphone medical apps. It's all the same for epocrates.

 

[coolmavs]

Thanks TMP-SMX. I think I read on this forum only about the one time deals for the blackberry softwares. Maybe, I am mistaken. So, there is no difference as far as the costs of the medical applications are concerned?

Also, what are the applications that will be useful during internal medicine internship? And approximately what is the cost of these applications?