PDAs. How necessary?

[BlondeCookie]

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How much of an advantage is having a PDA? I noticed some others on the wards have them and just wondering if it would be a good investment. What sort of software do you put on it? And is Palm or PocketPC better?

 

[Ezekiel20]

How much of an advantage is having a PDA? I noticed some others on the wards have them and just wondering if it would be a good investment. What sort of software do you put on it? And is Palm or PocketPC better?

For me (2nd year med), I would find studying difficult and inefficient without my PDA. I constantly use the medical dictionary on my PDA, and this alone is enough reason to get one in my opinion.

Other uses of my PDA include:
- Harrison's on PDA, for instant lookup of symptoms, diagnoses and treatment of major illnesses
- carrying summaries of important topics (compiled from 2-3 textbooks) which I read whenever I get the time (e.g. during 10 minute breaks between lectures)
- scanned charts/diagrams from textbooks (e.g. diagram showing lifecycle of malaria)
- summaries of laboratory investigations and their interpretatinos
- keeping track of things to do, etc.

As to whether Palm or Pocket PC is better, I think both are excellent. But I have been very happy with my Dell Axim V50 which I've had for 7-8 months now.

 

[Koko]

Try doing a search as this has been discussed with good feedback. I think they are helpful for third/fourth year and as a resident for various reasons. Software: info retriever, one of the pharm offerings (micromedex, epocrates, etc.), pepid, archimedes (for med formulas), diagnosaurus, etc. In addition to non-med applications (calendar, scheduling, word, etc.).

 

[BlondeCookie]

Try doing a search as this has been discussed with good feedback. I think they are helpful for third/fourth year and as a resident for various reasons. Software: info retriever, one of the pharm offerings (micromedex, epocrates, etc.), pepid, archimedes (for med formulas), diagnosaurus, etc. In addition to non-med applications (calendar, scheduling, word, etc.).

Sorry, I didn't realize that there is a PDA forum on this website.

 

[Koko]

Sorry, I didn't realize that there is a PDA forum on this website.

No worries. Just wanted to let you know there's some good info here.

 

[deleted87716]

How much of an advantage is having a PDA?

Asking if a PDA is necessary is sort of like asking if it's possible to get through medical school without one. The answer, of course, is "yes" (unless you go to a school where they actually are mandatory.) After all, generations of med students before you made do with home-made ringbound "peripheral brains" and overstuffed lab coat pockets full of little notecards, reference books, etc., so you could too. The thing is, now you don't have to. 😉

As others have already alluded, there's lots of good info in the Tech forum.