Palm OS Programs For The (Student) Nurse Anesthetist
(That I find useful)

The Palm OS is on all the HandSpring Visor models and PalmPilot's (as well as on a few other models including Sony).  NEVER buy a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with less than 8mb of memory.  That means the Visor Deluxe and Palm IIIxe are ok (as well as a few others.)

ePocrates (Current Version is 4.0, Size is about 1-1.5mb installed)  FREE 
    A comprehensive FREE clinical drug information guide designed for the Palm Computing Platform (hopefully they are working on one for the WinCE). It currently has Adult/Peds Dosing, Contraindications, Cautions, Drug Interactions, Adverse Reactions, Cost/Package Info, and "Other Info".  If you are logged onto the internet when you "HotSync" your PDA, then the ePocrates drug database will automatically be updated (This presently doesn't work for those that own Mac's but ePocrates is working on that).
    This program was glaringly missing Mechanism of Action but that was fixed with version 4.0.  The new Mechanism of Action section is not the most informative I've ever seen BUT you get the idea enough to be a safe practitioner AND you don't use up 4mb of memory on your PDA.  Half Life is still missing.  Though I must remind everyone that it is FREE.
    Version 4.0 now also has a great feature where you can check multiple drug interactions.  I also really like the "Cost" feature where they tell you the cost of 99% of all the prescribed medications (they use www.drugstore.com for its pricing). 
    If you are updating from ePocrates 3.0, follow their instructions PERFECTLY!!

AvantGo (Current Version is 4.0 build 823, Size is about 500kb-2mb installed with data)  FREE 
    Allows you to synchronize your PDA with websites. Note:  Go here to read more about compatibility with ePocrates.  They work together fine BUT if you are updating from ePocrates 3.0 then you need to do one step further.
    After you have installed AvantGo, you then choose the channels (webpages) that you want to "subscribe" to.  One of these channels is this MNA2001 website.  You then can browse these "channels" like they were webpages.  It is quite slick and FREE.  It's a quick, cheap way to carry your "newspaper" with you since you can sync with FoxNews and USA Today.  
    Sign up and install AvantGo and then you can add some of the following "channels" to your AvantGo account.

• MNA2001--This entire website on your PDA.  It is a little large but useful for when you want to study while you are sitting in "church" pretending to listen!!  I have it set so that none of the graphics are downloaded so it saves quite a bit of space...though I have to be honest and say that I didn't design this website from the get-go with using PDA's.  There are a few things that are a little of a pain but I'll try to fix them if enough of you ask.  Most of the problems stem from not displaying graphics (remember...to save space on your PDA).  Well some of the graphics we use are pretty important when it comes to studying.  How about these to name just a few....  I could change them to say "Increased", "Decreased" etc...just let me know.  Click HERE to add this channel to your AvantGo Account (Obviously AFTER you have AvantGo installed on your PDA!!).
• Anesthesia Resources--TONS of usable info for anesthesia providers.  It is posted for Maine Medical Center's (in Portland, Maine) anesthesia department but it is useful for all anesthesia providers.  I accidentally bumped into this page one day and now I use it often.  It is specifically designed to work on your PDA with AvantGo so it really works slick.  I really like their "Herbal Medicines" with anesthesia page (you'll find it on the Miscellaneous Info page).  Click HERE to visit the site now and click HERE to add this site to your AvantGo account.  Granted...some of it is completely useless (call rotation etc.) but it SHOULD be on your PDA.
• Don't forget there are also the non-medical channels for news, sports, weather, stocks etc.  Let me know if you find another good medical one.

MedCalc (Current Version is 3.71, Size is about 175kb) FREE
    It has currently 57 medical formulas to help you out day to day (including an Anesthesiology Category.  Go HERE to go directly to their download page.

ABG-Pro (Current Version is 2.2, Size is 18kb)  FREE 
    "Not only will the program tell you whether or not you have a metabolic or respiratory acidosis or alkalosis, but it will also calculate expected PCO₂ and expected HCO₃ when needed, and will then tell you if there is a concominant acid-base disorder. It will even calculate Anion Gap and Delta-Delta if necessary (not sure what Delta-Delta is? Download the program and we will tell you!) Impress your attendings and fellow residents / students!"

Glasgow Coma Scale (Current Version is ??, Size is 10kb) FREE  
    Automatically tells you your patients GCS with a few taps of your stylus.  Go HERE to download it at www.RNpalm.com 

JournalToGo  FREE 
    This looks good even though I haven't tried it yet.  Selected medical journal abstracts and healthcare news articles are automatically delivered to your Palm OS^® device when you HotSync

O₂ Tank (Current Version is 1.1, Size is about 11kb)  FREE  
    Calculates how long O₂ cylinders will last at a specified flow rate. O₂ Tank can calculate for D, E, M and H cylinders.  Go HERE to download it at www.RNpalm.com 

IV Rate Calculator (Current Version is 1.3, Size is about 16kb)  FREE
    Calculates IV drip rates in ml/hr. It features a user editable database of drugs to speed the calculations.  A VERY nifty little program.  It can be found HERE at the developers website.  

I Hope That You Find This Helpful.  I'll Put More Here As I Find It.

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Last updated 09/06/01 09:06:21 PM