Epocrates Rx
Posted on this Tuesday, July 15, 2008 21:08 by caw
Filed Under Medicine and Health, Technology | Leave a Comment
I know doctors have been using Epocrates’ software on handhelds for years. PalmOS got the early start in the "medical software" field and now Windows Mobile and, to a lesser extent BlackBerry, are catching up. It lets your doctor – or you! – carry a medical library in her pocket.
This wasn’t something I expected to see in the iTunes App Store. I should have but the brain was thinking that way. If you take multiple medications or have a medical condition more complex than a hangnail, you might have an interest in Epocrates Rx. It gives you a mountain of information: drug information, pill identification, drug interactions, formulary information, and constant updates. The really cool thing is that most of the functionality is available for free! Just register for a free account and you are set.
I guess this is the point where I say I’m not a doctor or pharmacist, and my opinion doesn’t count for squat. This software doesn’t replace a trained clinical person, don’t change your dosing based on it, don’t tell them I sent you, etc etc etc.
One of the slick things you can do with the Epocrates Rx app is see what drugs interact with other drugs (contraindications and cautions). If you want to scare yourself silly, read the Black Box Warnings!
I have multiple doctors; each sees me for a specific condition. Yes, they send my records back and forth but I’m the common thread, the one at all the office visits. While I’m not a health care provider, I do believe that as a patient I need to understand both my medical conditions and the medications my doctors are prescribing.
The Internet gives me more data and lets me ask better questions; this app puts it in my pocket. I also think it shows the potential of the iPhone and the 2.0 software release. Thank you to Apple and Epocrates!
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