Epocrates Rx for Android and webOS

This is being republished from: http://www.medicalsmartphones.com/

Have you tried Epocrates Rx on your Google Android or Palm webOS smartphone?  The software is currently beta and you won't get any updates, but it's stable and it runs well. You can view photos of pills, check for drug-drug interactions, and use important tables and calculators. 

I know that many physicians rely on Epocrates on a daily basis. Are you one of those users? I still remember when Epocrates launched its company in 1998 and when PDAs were starting to enter the medical industry. Those were simple days of grayscale Palm Pilots and AAA batteries. Now, we have a wide selection of powerful devices like the Motorola Droid and the Palm Pre.

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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.

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.

Palm Pre allows tethering

Looks like the Palm Pre will allow tethering. Tethering is a great way to get online on your laptop by using your phone as a modem. You don't need any fancy broadband cards if your phone is already broadband capable. I use my XV6800 to connect my UMPC or laptop whenever I travel. No need for Wi-Fi as long as I have my phone. Even though I have built-in 3G on my Thinkpad X200 tablet, I don't use it (except for the GPS part). I use my Verizon Wireless phone instead. I still get 3G speed, but at a fraction of the cost. I'm connected all the time!

People are getting excited about the Palm Pre

Are you excited about the Palm Pre? Some people can't wait to replace their Treos with a Palm Pre. Are you in that camp? I know so many doctors and medical students who still use the old Palm OS Treo.

I hope Palm has better luck with this operating system. The previous one was just so archaic and it really didn't keep up with the 21st century. Hopefully the webOS will be a significant improvement.

Death of Palm OS

According to some news reports, there will be no more new devices running the Palm OS.

Palm will focus its energy on smartphones running webOS and the first device will be the Palm Pre.

I'm surprised its taken Palm this long to kill their OS. The inability to multi-task has really hindered this OS from being robust enough for modern devices. It was great in the late nineties when you used your Palm Pilot to keep your calendar and contacts. Now, these things are essential mini-computers that run very sophisticated software.

How will webOS compete against Windows Mobile, iPhone, and BlackBerry?

Time to Replace a Treo (not mine)

Not mine. I got rid of my Treo a long time ago. However, I know someone who is now looking for a change. What's the best phone for a physician on Verizon Wireless?

The Samsung Omnia is a great for someone who wants something thin that has a large screen, no hardware keyboard, and Windows Mobile.

The BlackBerry Storm is ideal for someone who wants the same features, but on a BlackBerry.

The HTC Touch Pro is a fantastic slider, but it's thick and bulky.

The Samsung Saga is a thinner version of the Treo.

If you're really on a budget, you could go with the old XV6900 (made by HTC). I can't think of anyone who would still buy a Palm Centro running the old Palm OS when the new Palm Pre is coming out.

So what would you pick?