Health Sciences Library - PDA Support

Library Support for PDA’s in Health Sciences

Getting Started with PDA’s
http://communication.howstuffworks.com/pda.htm

Palm, Pocket PC, Blackberry or iPhone?
- basic rule – decide what functionality is most important to you, and select accordingly
- in the past, most residents and medical faculty used in a Palm PDA, but iPhone/iPod Touch is becoming increasingly popular

Wireless Access for PDAs
- before you can access the internal wireless network, identified by the "U of S" NSID, you will need to configure your PDA
- assistance with hand-held devices is available from the ITS Help Desk on a best-effort basis
- once your PDA has been configured for the U of S wireless network, you will be able to access it from the wireless access points on campus. You will need your NSID and password to log in to the network

Library Resources for PDA’s
1) Lexi-Comp
-downloading instructions at http://library.usask.ca/resources/lexicomp_pda
- official drug reference of the American Pharmacists Association and the National Professional Society of Pharmacists
- covers most Canadian brand names, and compares favourably to the free program ePocrates
- available for Palm, PocketPC, Blackberry and iPhone platforms
- we have access to Lexi-Select, which includes these databases: Lexi-Drugs; Drug Allergy; Dental Lexi-Drugs; Infectious Diseases; Pharmacogenomics; Pediatric Lexi-Drugs; Nursing Lexi-Drugs; Lab & Diagnostic Procedures; Natural Products; Pregnancy and Lactation; Patient Advisory Leaflets; Lexi-Tox; Household Products
* Lexi-CALC, Lexi-I.V. Compatibility, and Lexi-Drug I.D. are not available on the BlackBerry platform
- you must update this regularly to ensure the information is up-to-date, either by synching your PDA or clicking update on your iPhone

2) MD Consult Mobile (beta)
-not a downloadable program; requires wireless access for use
-you'll need to set up a personal account in MD Consult (desktop version); then go to mdconsult.com to view it on your mobile device
-search books/journals in MDConsult using “quick reference topics” or typing a term into the search box

3) DynaMed
- a clinical, evidence-based reference system, designed for health care professionals at the point of care. The database is comprised of 3000+ summaries of information on diseases, disorders, and symptoms.
- covers etiology, history and physical findings, diagnosis, prognosis and prevention, and treatment
- available for Palms, Pocket PC , Windows Smartphone, BlackBerry, iPhone
- a DynaMed PDA serial number is required to complete the DynaMed PDA download. E-mail dynamedsupport@epnet.com using your usask e-mail address and request a serial number for your PDA device, and then follow the instructions under “PDA Support” from the online DynaMed database. You will have access for one year; once the year is up, you can request a new serial number

4) Access Medicine
- access to Diagnosaurus - 1000+  Differential Diagnoses , explore by disease, symptom, or organ system; click on “DDX”, then “Free Diagnosaurus for your handheld” (available for Palm, PocketPC or Blackberry; iPhone version must be bought from iTunes store for $.99)
- can download sections of books – there doesn't seem to be a limit, except for memory on your PDA, and copyright concerns
- available for Palm, Windows or Blackberry devices
- must register under “My Access Medicine”

5) IUSASK
-for iPhone only, gives you access to the U of S library catalogue, and your library account (after entering your barcode)

Free Programs
1) NLM Mobile
http://pubmedhh.nlm.nih.gov/nlmd/
- search PubMed, read books etc. from your PDA

2) Epocrates Rx
- http://www.epocrates.com/
- drug reference tools
- available for Palm, Windows Mobile, iPhone, and BlackBerry

Sources of Software for Health Care Professionals
SkyScape
http://www.skyscape.com/index/home.aspx

Unbound Medicine
http://www.unboundmedicine.com

Wake Forest University School of Medicine -- Carpenter Library’s PDA Toolkit – links to free PDA and iPhone resources

http://www2.wfubmc.edu/library/toolkits/pda+tools.htm