"The editors at iMedicalApps have gone through the free medical apps available for the iPad, and we have chosen 10 free medical apps that healthcare professionals can utilize. These apps range from simple drug reference apps to 3D virtual reality medical apps that make use of the iPads accelerometer. Unlike many other so called "top-10″ lists, this list is not based on the most downloaded apps in the medical section of the App Store."
With 2012 coming to an end, we have put together a list of innovative medical and healthcare apps - apps that gave us pause and represent the future of mobile medicine. These apps should also inspire developers and other healthcare providers to think outside the box when developing their own medical apps. Of note, most of the apps mentioned in this compilation are free to download.
"The app provides mini flashcards for over 130 bugs including high yield keywords and disease associations.
Quizzes include vignettes that have more information about each organism, but this app still does not include all the relevant board exam related microbiology information.
This app cannot be used as the only microbiology resource when studying for boards, but the app may be useful to quickly study on the go."
"SimMon is a medical simulator app that takes the form of a simple patient monitor. There are a number of physiological parameters that can be measured including ECG, arterial waveform, oxygen saturation, BP and more. One of the strengths of this app is that it can be remotely controlled by another iPhone or iPad."
"Medscape Mobile app is a great tool for clinicians, particularly those who use iPad or KindleFire. The user-friendly interface is a definite improvement over other medical reference apps, and its wealth of offline content is a great addition as well. Plus - it's free!"
"As a medical student, I can certainly say that I probably don't know nearly as much physical exam technique as Sir William Osler taught his students - so I need an app for that! iOrtho+ is an app that has descriptions and videos of musculoskeletal physical exams for those of us who have a lot of physical examination skills to learn."
"Physicians now have access to close to 400 multimedia procedures on their iOS devices. With the Procedures Consult app from Elsevier, access a centralized collection of expert videos, high quality illustrations and text demonstrating essential procedures in detail. The app allows for text and illustration content to be stored on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod"
"Harvard Medical School encourages its students to take advantage of the growing number of mobile medical apps. While the school does not distribute devices to its students, they are instructed to bring their favorite devices to campus and HMS maintains licenses for apps that might be useful to its students."
"The NEJM Image Challenge app provides a great forum to keep one's diagnostic skills sharp, but has limitations in lack of robustness of explanations and inability to save particular images for later review."
"When it comes to OSCE exams and presenting cases, practice is essential. In order to develop these vital skills, doctors and students need to gain vital experience. Thankfully, there is now an app to help do this."
"Anatomy At A Glance makes a highly successful transition from paper to digital
While there are some potential improvements, this is a decent first attempt for Wiley-Blackwell
Those looking for a digital copy of Anatomy At A Glance will not go far wrong with this app"
"I've just discovered Instacast, an app that makes it astonishingly easy to subscribe to and follow podcasts on an iPhone or iPad. Subscriptions are entered by touching one button, podcasts can be streamed or downloaded for off-line viewing, show notes can be browsed or followed while listening to or watching a podcast."
"Rather than be deterred, Chi-Ming Chow, MD, FRCPC, a staff cardiologist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ont., and an associate professor in the University of Toronto's Department of Medicine, encourages physicians to explore the utility of apps and to focus on the exciting possibilities opened up by their use. "
"STATworkUP™ has an immense amount of correlated data between symptoms, tests, diagnoses and treatments. While the app cannot be relied upon to thoroughly determine a differential diagnosis or provide an evidence-based summary of therapy, it can serve as an additional arrow in the clinicians quiver especially when wrestling with an uncommon diagnostic dilemma."
The "take home message" is that junior doctors and medical students are overwhelmingly enthusiastic to endorse organizational associated apps that help their learning and work activities.
"EndoGoddess is leading the charge in the patient revolution, specifically for those in the world of Diabetes. Download the app and join to be part of the movement!
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"The aim of this iBook is to help students learn and understand the structure and function of the brachial plexus by guiding the reader through four key areas. There is extensive use of interactive content throughout the app in the form of videos, question sessions in addition to the options offered as part of the iBooks app. This includes the ability to highlight passages, make notes or generate study cards based on material within the iBook."