Samsung Q1EX-71G UMPC

The Samsung Q1EX-71G UMPC is now on the Samsung website. CDW has it listed for $729.99 (the part # is NP-Q1EX-FA01US). Let's see what the reviews look like. When UMPCs first came out, I thought they would be great in the healthcare sector. Uptake has been slow with the UMPC, but the Motion C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) tablet seems to have gained significant momentum in hospitals.

The Evolution of the Bedside Thoracentesis

When I was a medical student many years ago, the thoracentesis was a common bedside procedure that was performed during your internal medicine clinical clerkship. Back in those days, although ultrasound technology was available, it was not routine to have a bedside ultrasound when performing a thoracentesis. Instead, you would percuss the back and determine the height of the fluid level. If you had poor physical exam skills, then you may not have inserted a needle into a lung.

Today, many general internists and hospitalists in this country are learning how to use the portable ultrasound to perform safer bedside procedures. Central line placement, thoracentesis, and even paracentesis are now often performed under ultrasound guidance. If I were a patient needing a thoracentesis, I think I'd prefer ultrasound guidance, even if I had a simple, non-loculated effusion. Technology is improving the safety of medicine and I hope that more and more people are using technology appropriately to improve patient care.

Tons of Pharma Freebies on Ebay

So, now with the new PhRMA code, we've seen the last of pharma pens, cups, and note pads, right? Look on eBay and you'll see tons of people selling items that list: Exforge, Viagra, Bystolic, Lexapro, Lipitor, and much more. I still have some pens that say Vioxx, Zelnorm, and Propulsid (these drugs are no longer available in the USA).

If you have pharma freebies, are you hanging on to them with the hopes that they may someday become very valuable collectibles? Or, maybe you can show them to your grandkids and tell them what you used to receive "back in the day."

The Buzz About the Palm Pre

The Palm Pre has been receiving a ton of buzz, especially among the medical community where so many clinicians are loyal Palm OS users. What will the switch to Web OS look like for these individuals?

I admit that I've never been a fan of the Palm OS. The inability to multi-task was a real killer for me. I liked the simplicity of the OS, but it was too simple for my needs. Hence, I've been a loyal Windows Mobile user (starting with the iPaq and now with an XV6800). The Palm Pre looks like a very exciting device. I think it has a lot of potential and its popularity will help Palm survive through this recession.

Online Nursing Degrees

Currently, there are many different schools that are offering an online nursing program. Some programs are not 100% online, so you'll have to spend some time on campus. There is a national nursing shortage, so there is definitely a need to educate more students so that we can have more nurses.

What I also find interesting is that some of these programs are specifically designed to help current nurses who have an LPN transition to an RN or a BSN degree. You can also go from an RN to a BSN. Loyola University offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization in Health Care Systems Management (HCSM). Of course, you also have schools like the University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, Walden University, and others. I'm still waiting for one of the medical schools to start offering an online medical degree. I doubt that will happen anytime soon, but is that totally out of the question? The first two years of basic science education could probably be taught through distance learning and e-learning technology (except for gross anatomy).

10 Years Ago - The Palm V Was Great

Wow, I was just reminded that the Palm V was a really popular PDA 10 years ago. The Gadgeteer has a great review of this now-ancient PDA. I still have a Palm V in my office. It's a relic - a literal antique. Isn't it amazing how quickly technology changes? Wow, 10 years have gone by very quickly.

I should build a mini museum of all the different gadgets I've owned. It goes way back to the Sharp Wizard/ Zaurus, then the Apple Newton Messagepad series, then the Palm Pilot, and then you have grayscale Windows CE devices, then they changed the name to Pocket PC and the iPaq was the device to have, then smartphones emerged and became very popular so I got the Windows Mobile Treo 700wx, and now here I am with a Windows Mobile (Microsoft changed the name again) XV6800, an OQO model 02, and a Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC.

AltaPoint Version 9 Update

It looks like the folks over at AltaPoint have released an update for Version 9. AltaPoint provides EMR/Practice Management Software and they are based in Utah. I don't believe they are currently CCHIT certified, but I hope that changes in the near future.

If you're thinking about switching from paper charts to an electronic health record (EHR), then I would suggest checking on the CCHIT website. The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology certifies verious EHR/EMR solutions each year and if you're looking for a reliable ambulatory EHR that will last, then I recommend making the investment to get a CCHIT certified solution.

MobileBlogger for Windows Mobile

Do you blog when you're on the go? Many people are embracing microblogging these days. Twitter and other sites are becoming increasingly popular. Well, if you want to use your PDA/smartphone to blog when you're on the go, then try MobileBlogger. This application works on Windows Mobile devices (soon to be called the Windows Phone if you have a smartphone). I just can't type very fast on my mobile device (which is a Verizon XV 6800), so I prefer using my Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC, my OQO model 02, or my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet. What about you? Do you blog on the go?

Medical Students and PDA SmartPhones

What percentage of 3rd and 4th year medical students have either a PDA or a mobile smartphone? I would guess that number is very high, especially since many schools now require it. They require students to carry a PDA (either running Palm OS or Windows Mobile) so they can record patient encounters, procedures, etc. Several years ago, the dominant operating system was the Palm OS. I'm not sure what the case is right now. Are medical schools developing software that is compatible for the new Palm OS (which will be running on the Palm Pre), RIM/BlackBerry, and Apple iPhone? I'd have to think that it makes more sense to make everything web-based. This way, you can have any device you want. Most hospitals have Wi-Fi, so as long as you can get connected, you can enter all your information. As the iPhone becomes more common among medical students, residents, and attending physicians, there is a growing need to develop medical software. Or, will everything become web-based? It's difficult to multi-task if all your applications are dependent on a web browser.

Joe Kim on LinkedIn

If you happen to be on LinkedIn, you may notice that there are many people with the name Joe Kim (or Joseph Kim). How many people? There are over a hundred people! Since LinkedIn is open to people all over the world, I'm sure there must be thousands of people who have that name. So how many people do you know who have the last name Kim? How name Joe's do you know? When you combine those two very common names, you realize that a name like Joe Kim really is ubiquitous.

BlackBerry Storm and Medical Applications

It really is a shame. I've not seen many medical applications for the BlackBerry Storm. The iPhone has a growing number of medical applications that are currently available, but the paucity of apps for the BlackBerry Storm is truly sad. Having Epocrates just isn't enough. I suppose the folks at RIM weren't thinking about medical students and residents when they released the Storm.

The developers and marketers at Apple have the right idea - focus on education by creating the iTunes U (the U stands for University) and get students and professionals to use their iPhone or iPod touch to learn or to engage in continuing education. This is the right way to apply technology, innovation, and education to improve healthcare.

Employment Opportunities

This may not be the best time to be transitioning from a clinical to a non-clinical career. Even under this new administration, unemployment rates are climbing very rapidly. Within pharma, we see layoff announcements left and right. Pharma is also struggling because the FDA is being so overly cautious to approve new drugs. So, if you currently have a stable clinical job, you may want to wait for the economy improves to look for new opportunities.

Perhaps the only exception is within the health IT industry. I seem to see more job posts in that sector than any other right now. There is a growing need for better electronic health records (EHRs), computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems, and the integration with personal health records (PHRs) like Google Health and Microsoft Health Vault. I've been speaking with recent college grads who have told me that they are not having problems finding jobs in the health information technology/information space. Hospitals are recognizing the need for more efficient systems and as hardware and software capabilities improve, it's important to do periodic updates to stay current and to ensure the maximum levels of data integrity and security.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta - Won't be the Next Surgeon General

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the chief medical correspondent on CNN. He had been approached for the position of the US Surgeon General. However, he recently announced that he will not be pursuing this position and he will focus his time on neurosurgery and on his family. I'm sure he finds his current lifestyle fun and exciting - he gets to practice surgery at Emory and he travels the world to report for CNN. He has done an excellent job blending the clinical and non-clinical worlds.

The current Acting Surgeon General is Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H. and the Acting Deputy Surgeon General is Rear Admiral Robert C. Williams, P.E., DEE. John Maynard Woodworth (1871-1879) was the first Supervising Surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service.

AMDA 2009 Annual Symposium

AMDA is having its annual symposium in Charlotte, North Carolina this year. Today was the first day of the meeting and the theme this year is, "Partnering for Success: The Sky's the Limit." Major national meetings are still very popular ways for doctors to get their continuing medical education (CME).

Collaboration and partnering are such important principles within the long-term care (LTC) setting. The medical director needs to know how to guide an interdisciplinary team in the management of challenging issues in nursing homes and other LTC facilities. As the population ages and more older adults are requiring some type of LTC.

Samsung Isn't Giving Up on the UMPC

Samsung has a long history in the UMPC market. It was one of the first UMPCs that came out when the "origami project" was unveiled. Now, it is preparing to come out with the Q1EX (or NP-Q1EX). Who can keep up with this crazy naming convention?

Since I'm a Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC user, I am probably quite biased. My tiny tablet has been a good, functional machine, but it's not a multi-tasking power PC. It has a very slow processor, but in exchange, I get long battery life. It's a compromise, but one that I'm willing to make. In the healthcare field, doctors need to carry these things around everywhere, so portability, durability, and weight are critical factors.

I'm curious to see what people will think about this new Samsung UMPC. The Q1EX lacks any buttons, knows, or keys on the front. They went with a very simple and basic tablet. It almost feels like they went backwards, but maybe they are depending on all the great features that will be included on Windows 7. Multi-touch? Capacitive touch? Doubtful.

Vista SP2 Release Candidate

Microsoft has released the Vista SP2 Release Candidate version for testers. Since this is the RC version, it's not the final version that will go out to the public, but it's very close. I've gone through the hassle of installing various RC service packs, but then you have to uninstall them before you install the final version. It can be quite time-consuming, but it may be worth your while if you're suffering from some of the common Vista plagues that are being patched by SP2. I think I'll wait for the final release.

Don't Get Burned by that Transdermal Fentanyl Patch

I mean literally. The FDA has warned about the risk of burns in patients wearing transdermal patches and having an MRI. Some drug patches may contain aluminum or other metals and cause skin burns as the MRI creates a magnetic field and causes some of the metal to conduct electricity. Who would have thought, right? You may avoid radiation by undergoing an MRI, but make sure you don't come out with a skin burn.

Windows 7 Build 7048

There are more circulating rumors about Microsoft Windows 7 (in this case, it's about build 7048). Some don't seem to think that this is the Release Candidate version of Windows 7. It seems like Microsoft still has many things to fix before Windows 7 is ready for the world.

It's been refreshing to use XP on my main PC at work. I had Vista on it, but I was having so many issues that I finally decided to go to XP. I still have Vista on my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet, but that's primarily because the tablet features are so much better on Vista. Almost all those nice tablet features will also be found on Windows 7. I use the on-screen touch pointer quite a bit when I'm tapping on the screen. Otherwise, I rely on the active Wacom digitizer found on my stylus pen.

So are you excited about Windows 7? I used to have more enthusiasm, but recently that's dwindled significantly. I'd like to see Microsoft continue support for XP since it will probably still be the dominant operating system on netbooks and UMPCs (well, it will be for people who want a sleek, refined, stable operating system that takes up minimal hard drive space).

Residency or Research?

I got a note today from a medical student who asked: "If I'm deeply interested in research and I don't see myself practicing clinical medicine, what should I do? Pursue residency? Get a PhD?"

This can be tough to answer because it really depends on so many variables. First, how do you know that you won't enjoy some type of clinical medicine? Have you considered all the options, or only the most common ones? Towards the end of the clinical clerkship years, medical students have gotten exposed to most of the common medical specialties, but they probably haven't rotated through specialties like pathology, PM&R, preventive medicine, and several others.

If you're absolutely certain that you don't want to pursue residency, then step back and look at your long-term career goals. For instance, if you want to do clinical research in pharma, then you probably should do a residency, publish some papers, become an academic faculty, and then make the transition. You don't need an MBA to be a researcher for industry.

If you want to work in hospital administration, then you'll need to have practical clinical experience. Hence, you need to do a residency to really understand the nuts and bolts of managing a hospital system.

My advice is always to try residency first. If you give it a fair chance before you pursue other options, because it's often very difficult to go back to clinical medicine.

The road to a PhD can be a very long one, so if you know that you want to focus on basic science research, then you may want to start down that path earlier than later. However, I would still encourage you to give residency a chance (and try to look for some creative options).

The Stability of Health IT in Today's Economy

There have been recent stories about jobs in the health IT industry. Despite all the instability in today's economy, the health IT sector seems to be booming. Hospitals are implementing changes and upgrading their systems. Information systems and technology have become integral parts of the healthcare infrastructure. More and more clinics and hospitals are becoming "digitized" and entering the digital world of electronic medical/health records (EMR/EHR). Plus, more and more patients are using personal health record (PHR) services to keep their own medical records portable and easily accessible. So, if you're considering a career change or you feel like an entrepreneur, then pursue opportunities in health care informatics (health IT, health IS/IT, EHR/PHR, etc.)

NY Times: Harvard Medical School and Ethics

There's a very interesting story on the NY Times about Harvard medical school and ethics as it relates to relationships with industry. We're primarily talking about the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, but we must also remember medical device and diagnostic equipment companies. In any case, Harvard professors are deeply involved in industry-funded research and many of them are also paid speakers and consultants for several of these companies. Conflict of interest is the key buzzword (or in this case, buzzphrase). How do you resolve any potential conflicts of interest in such situations? It can get quite complicated, especially if you have significant ties to industry. However, I believe that it can be done, but that's not to say that everyone out there is doing it correctly.

There have been many stories of highly-ranked academic professors quitting their academic careers to work for industry. I think people need to find what's right for them, and for some, a career in non-clinical medicine is the right fit. I personally know several people who have transitioned from academia to pharma and most of them seem to enjoy the different challenges and rewards faced in a corporate environment. Of course, there are pros and cons to every decision, including the decision about leaving academia. The bottom line is that it's a very personal decision.

Online Master of Science in Health Communication

Boston University (BU) offers an Online Master of Science in Health Communication. For those of you who are considering a career transition into medical communications, you may want to look into this relatively new degree program. I miss my days in Boston. It's such a wonderful city for a college student. However, if you don't live in Boston, you can still get educated by some of the great colleges in New England. Boston University is an internationally respected university with a reputation for excellence and extensive research and ranks among the Top 100 National Universities according to U.S. News & World Report college rankings. Boston University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC).

International Society for Medical Publication Professionals

Have you heard of International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) ? That's pronounced "Iz-Map"

They are having their 5th annual meeting in Philly. If you want to learn more about medical publishing and wish to network with others in this industry, then this might be a worthwhile meeting to attend. The ISMPP also offers distance learning via webinars through the ISMPP University for those who wish to learn more about the medical publishing industry.

The theme this year is: Defining Professionalism in Medical Publications: Transparency, Objectivity, and Ethics

The ISMPP also offers a certification program for those who wish to be a Certified Medical Publication Professional (CMPP). I wonder if that's where those in the CME industry came up with the Certified CME Professional (CCMEP).

MIT Solar Car

I wish I could go back to MIT and be an engineering student again. If I could, I'd want to be on the Solar Electric Vehicle Team (SEVT). I'm a big fan of hybrids (even though I don't currently own a hybrid), but I think the thought of a solar car is so much more appealing. Can you see the look on people's faces if you pull up to work in one of these?

This is a picture of Eleanor in a wind tunnel. Speaking of wind tunnels, I remember riding my road bike (I was stationary) in an MIT wind tunnel. My friend was an aero/astro major and he was working on a project that involved the airflow around a cyclist. My eyes dried out very quickly in that tunnel! (and yes, I was wearing eyewear - Oakley I think)

Blog Experimenting

I'm still doing some experimenting with my blog, so I hope you'll bear with me. On one hand, I've decided to keep everything focused on medicine and technology. On the other hand, I realize that I can write about almost anything and somehow tie that in with medicine and/or technology. Therefore, I'm diversifying my writing while keeping it all related to health and technology.

Don't Throw Away Your XV6800. It's a GPS

If you decide to upgrade your smartphone someday, don't throw away your Verizon XV6800. It can be used as a standalone GPS device, even if the phone isn't activated or connected to any service plans. Therefore, you could make a TomTom or Garmin out of your Windows Mobile XV6800 and have it as a backup GPS.

Have GPS devices really improved the safety of driving? This is somewhat controversial because some may argue that people are getting into more accidents as they tap on the screen and lose focus on the road. Others may say that people are safer because they're more confident about their driving and they aren't slowing down erratically or making unsafe turns.

Running on a Treadmill

I enjoy running. My freshman year at MIT, I ran the Boston Marathon as an unqualified bandit runner (the term "bandit" is used for those non-registered runners who don't qualify or who want to run the marathon at the last-minute). Of course, it takes a lot of training to properly prepare for a marathon. As for me, I was a freshman and I wanted to do something fun since it was my first time living in Boston. I did all my running outside along the Boston Esplanade and I certainly didn't need a treadmill.

Now, I run at the gym and sometimes I'll go for a run outside. At my local health club, they have many different types of treadmills. I'm constantly amazed at these workout machines that get introduced. Technology has come a long way in the area of health and fitness machines. At Smooth Fitness, you'll find an assortment of treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, and other workout machines. Equipment technology has advanced and I like how newer equipment can now be linked to a heart rate monitor so that you can evaluate your intensity. It's also a safety issue for older people who exercise on routinely.

When I'm at the gym, I tend to use the ellipticals because they are easier on the joints. I'm spoiled because I get to choose from many different machines what all have different features that you can change like elevation, resistance, angle, etc.

Obama Picks Kansas Gov. Sebelius for HHS Secretary

I don't like to talk about politics very much, so I'll keep this brief. I think the headline speaks for itself. President Obama picked Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

If you're a clinician and you have a strong interest in politics, it may help to get involved in media campaigns and local public health service projects. If you get recognized, you may find yourself on television and you may even become famous!

Protein Shakes

Do you work out? Are you trying to build muscle? Do you drink energy drinks and protein shakes made of organic whey? Organic what? Organic whey or whey protein powder is often used to make protein shakes. You've probably seen them in health and fitness stores. They're those large containers that have words like "energy" or "build muscle" written all over them.

The protein shake is a staple among body builders and others who like to work out and build muscle. Since our muscles are primarily built of protein, we are what we eat, right? So, if you want to build stronger and bigger muscles, then you need to have enough digested protein in your diet. One easy ways it to take some energy protein powder, blend it with your favorite ingredients (like milk and fruit), and then have a nice smoothie snack that's full of protein.

These types of protein shakes have been very popular on the west coast and you'll see them all over at drink stands, malls, and small shops. They've gained popularity in other areas as well, but I don't think I've ever seen them with the same degree of ubiquity as in the west coast.

Netbooks for Students

I often get asked, "are netbooks appropriate for students?"

This is somewhat controversial. On one hand, netbooks are small, cheap, and light. Sounds perfect for students! However, they have a tiny screen and this can significantly hinder performance and work productivity. If you're planning on using your netbook to send e-mails, do instant messaging, and other non-work-related tasks, then a netbook might be the perfect little gadget to add to your collection of mobile phone for texting. However, if a student is serious about getting some real productivity out of a laptop, then I would suggest getting something that has a screen size of 12" or more (ideally around 14" so that it's not monstrous to lug around Starbucks or Barnes and Noble).

Acne

Acne (or acne vulgaris) is the most common skin disorder in this country and is highly prevalent among younger people. It affects over 17 million people, so if you suffer from acne, you're not alone.

Acne can be very tough to treat. As a youth, I remember knowing some students who really struggled with acne. They were teased, ridiculed, and criticized by their peers. Kids can be rough in what they say, can't they! Well, many advances in acne therapy have led to improvements in skin cleaning solutions.

The Acne Complex is a product developed by Dr. Howard Murad, a dermatologist at UCLA. He now has a company and has brands his product the Murad Acne Complex. You may have seen some of the commercials on television. They describe the 3 simple steps it takes to clear acne.

This blog entry is brought to you by your friends at www.acnecomplex.com

Medicine and Blogging Technology

Blogging has really changed the art of medicine in several ways. First, patients and family members have ways to support each other and learn from each other though patient blogs, advocacy sites, foundations, and other support groups. We've seen sites like CaringBridge provide tremendous support to families in distress. This has really enhanced the ability for patients to access resources and other important tools that can help them and their families as they cope with chronic and serious medical illnesses. Blogging technology really has made a direct impact in the lives of patients.

The other way that blogging has changed the landscape of healthcare is through the blogs written by physicians and other healthcare professionals. Patients now have ways to learn about certain disorders by reading some of the educational content produced by certain clinicians. Also, healthcare providers now have an easier way to stay tuned with current medical events by subscribing to RSS feeds and visiting medical blogs. In some cases, patients also have ways to directly communicate with providers by leaving comments.

Blogging technology continues to evolve as Web 2.0 permeates the healthcare space and more and more doctors are starting to see the value of the blogosphere. Through my blog, I've had the opportunity to interact with patients, students, doctors, nurses, researchers, and others interested in the healthcare industry. It's a fantastic way to build a social network and learn more about the things that you're passionate about. For me, I'm passionate about technology, medicine, public health, and education. This blog has allowed me to share some of my thoughts and it's also allowed me to look at our current healthcare system and see how advances in technology have been changing the world of medicine.

GoDaddy Custom Domains and Blogger URL Forwarding/Redirect for Naked Domains

I wish to share something for my fellow bloggers using Blogger/Blogspot who purchase a custom domain through GoDaddy.

Here's the problem: if you purchase a domain (like be: medicineandtechnology.com) and then use Blogger, you have to include the www in the URL: be: www.medicineandtechnology.com

Blogger won't let you use the "naked domain" of medicineandtechnology.com

You need those triple w's (www), otherwise you may end up on a 404 (not found) or other dead page if you simply type: medicineandtechnology.com. In my case, I saw a generic GoDaddy page with lots of ads and links.

So what's the solution? Have GoDaddy redirect/forward : medicineandtechnology.com to: www.medicineandtechnology.com

This way, if a user enters be: medicineandtechnology.com, they automatically end up on be: www.medicineandtechnology.com

You can't set this redirect using Blogger, otherwise you'll get this error message:
Blogs may not be hosted at naked domains.
Many people have had problems using this URL forwarding/redirect within GoDaddy. I had some problems initially, but after some extensive reading, I found the correct configuration that currently works for me.

Here are the steps that worked for me and hopefully they will work for you too:

Set all these settings in the GoDaddy Domain Manager. Then, after you've set all these settings, make the change on Blogger/Blogspot to use the custom domain.

1. Namerservers (set to Parked)

NS17.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
NS18.DOMAINCONTROL.COM

If those aren't the nameservers you see, then click to change them to "custom," enter those namesevers, and then click to "parked"

2. DNS settings/revisions
Revise the "A Record @" and the "CNAME www"

• A Record @ 64.202.189.170
• CNAME www to ghs.google.com

4. Enable URL Forwarding
In my case, I set the forwarding URL to be: www.medicineandtechnology.com
Don't forget the triple w (www) in that URL forwarding address
Make sure you don't have a "/" at the end of your URL

5. After you make all these changes, go into Blogger and then enable your custom domain. Then wait a few hours or so, and hopefully it will work for you like it did for me.

Medicine and Technology

I've decided to secure the URL: http://www.medicineandtechnology.com/ for this site.

As I reflect back the last few months of writing, I realize that the focus of this site has really been on medicine (health care, non-clinical opportunities, medical education, etc.) and technology (gadgets, health information technology, electronic health records, etc.).

There are significant overlapping areas, especially when it comes to health information technology, PHR, EHR/EMR, CCHIT, HIMSS, etc. Moving forward, I hope to always tie the theme of "medicine and technology" in everything that I write (even if that includes a new gadget, a new drug, issues about medical education, etc.).

iPhone Dominating the Mobile Web Space

According to this CNN Money/Fortunate blog, the iPhone has 67% of the mobile Internet marketplace. Windows Mobile has roughly 7%. This data was collected by a group called the Net Applications.

Could this be true? Yes. Most doctors who use smartphones aren't browsing many websites. They mainly use drug database software like Epocrates. However, many medical students and doctors have been switching from Palm or Windows Mobile to the iPhone and the Blackberry. The iPhone has such a nice mobile browser that more and more people are using this to browse the Internet. Hopefully Windows Mobile will catch up as they improve Pocket Internet Explorer.

Microsoft Office 2007 the Ultimate Steal

It's back! If you're a student, then you can get an incredible deal on Microsoft Office 2007 through this special offer:
http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/default.aspx

You can get Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for $59.95

Now, that's an educational discount!

Summer Pharmacy Internships

Now that it's already March, the summer will be here very quickly! If you're in pharmacy and you're looking for a summer internship, you may want to take a look at this list from the Pharmacy Times:
http://careers.pharmacytimes.com/articles/B66094EC.asp

Symbicort is now FDA approved for COPD

The FDA has approved the use of Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) for the treatment of COPD. Symbicort is a combination inhaler that was originally approved for the treatment of asthma and is manufactured by AstraZeneca. Like many other new drugs, it has been available in Europe for a while now.

Patients are Spending Less on Medications

The current economy is having some serious effects on the nation's healthcare system. More and more patients are spending less and less on their prescription medications. For some, that may lead to the worsening of serious medical conditions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, COPD). For others, it may impact issues related to lifestyle (e.g., Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) or cosmetics (e.g., Botox, skin creams, etc.)

Chronic medical conditions need to be treated appropriately and if patients are skipping medications or reducing dosages on their own, then this may lead to some serious public health problems. What's the solution?

Distance Learning and the Internet

When I think back to my days at MIT, I remember so many students used to skip classes. Or, they would fall asleep during the lecture. The same was true for certain courses at medical school. So if you're not going to go to class, can you really learn the material?

The answer seems to be yes, and this has been shown in numerous examples of successful distance learning programs. Now that you can get a degree online from a reputable, accredited university, we can see that distance learning works. Also, there are so many different forms of continuing education (especially in the healthcare industry) that are delivered via various distance learning modalities: e.g., Internet, teleconference, webcast, etc. As Internet bandwidth increases, distance learning and e-Learning capabilities continue to grow.

MBA Costs at U Mass Amherst Isenberg

As a member of the University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni association, I'd like to let people know about the Isenberg School of Business at UMass Amherst. They offer an flexible part-time MBA that is 100% online and is also endorsed by the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE). The Isenberg Part-Time MBA Program ranked 5th in the Northeast and 29th in the Nation by BusinessWeek. It is accredited by the AACSB and students even have the option of taking live courses on select UMass campus locations.

This is a 37-credit program that can be done over 4 years, but most students complete this program in 2 - 2.5 years while working full-time. If you've a physician and you've been thinking about pursuing an online MBA, this is one you should seriously consider. Each class will cost roughly $2,000 so that puts the entire program at roughly $25,000. At some universities, you'll easily pay over twice that amount to get an MBA.

So what are you waiting for? You can even take 1-2 classes as a non-degree student and then transfer those credits towards your MBA degree.

Overwhelmed by Medical Education?

Because of the wealth of medical information that is currently available on the Internet, I often wonder whether physicians, nurses, and pharmacists are overwhelmed by educational content. Some content may be inaccurate, outdated or biased, but the content is there. Is there enough? Or too much? We all know that certain disease states attract a ton of attention (e.g., diabetes, breast cancer, heart failure, etc.)

What about the less common conditions? Aplastic anemia? Swallow syncope? More and more healthcare professionals are using Internet search engines to find the answers to their clinical questions, but are the sources of information accurate and reliable? Unfortunately, most of the time the answer is no.

At the same time, clinicans are so busy that they hardly have any time to sit down and receive any formal education. So what's the best way to learn and to stay up-to-date on current topics? Medical technology is advancing so quickly that unless you're continually updated with new information, you'll quickly fall behind and continue old practice patterns.

Vista SP2

So when is Vista SP2 going to be available? Some are speculating that it may be within the next month or so. My gut tells me that SP2 will be the final service pack for Vista. All the focus will go towards Windows 7. In my opinion, Windows 7 should be called "Vista SP3." After all, if Windows 7 is going to be a minor upgrade that fixes many Vista problems and streamlines the operating system to be more efficient, then shouldn't that be considered a service pack?

I'm getting closer to a Mac each day. I'm sure all my friends who are devoted Mac users are just waiting for the day when I make that switch. Give me a tablet Mac!

Sold a Treo 700wx

I sold an old Treo 700wx today. No, it wasn't mine. I got rid of mine a very long time ago. However, this Treo that I just sold had been used until very recently. It will be dearly missed. However, as new devices come and replace old ones, I'm sure this Treo won't be missed very long. I wonder if Verizon still has any old Treo 700wx phones in stock (for repairs, exchanges, etc.).

Physicians and Social Networking

KevinMD has an interesting post about doctors potentially putting themselves at risk on social networking sites. Sermo is a FREE online community just for physicians and is one example of a closed, private social network. Doctors can post whatever they want in a closed environment, but if that information were made available to attorneys, then would that place a doctor at risk for malpractice lawsuits? As social networking grows within the medical community, these are some of the sensitive topics that are being brought up. I'm sure there are some doctors who avoid social networking websites purely because they fear that the information they post may somehow be used against them.

I Love eBay

eBay is such a great way to get rid of old electronics and other gadgets. I just sold a few items and it's great to clean up some of the clutter around the house.

I also find eBay to be a useful source for cellphone accessories, computer parts, and other small peripherals. I avoid buying things from China because the shipping cost to replace/refund just isn't worth the hassle.

Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Conference 2009

The Harvard Business School (HBS) Social Enterprise Conference was totally sold out today. It must have been quite a networking opportunity to meet people from eBay, Harvard, One Laptop per Child, Cisco, Aetna, the Boston Consulting Group, and other major corporations and groups.

Joe Kim on Wink People Search

When I checked on Wink, I found 2,711 people with the name Joe Kim. When I typed in Joseph Kim, the same number came out. So then I was curious, and I started typing other names:

• John Kim - 5,421
• David Kim - 4,239
  
• James Kim - 4,078
• Tom Kim - 3,550
  
• Mike Kim - 3,135
  
• Paul Kim - 2,253
• Scott Kim - 1,872
  
• Peter Kim - 1,565

Interesting?

Joe Kim on Facebook

Wow, how many people named Joe Kim are on Facebook? I'm never surprised by how many people I find with my name (of course, they probably think that I have their name). Whether it's Joe Kim or Joseph Kim, there are way too many of us on this planet. Why couldn't our parents be more original and give us more unique names? After all, the last name Kim is the most common surname in Korea.