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Personal Digital Assistant (PDA ): A new Tool for Health Care Professionals in Palestine. By Abdel Hakim Bishawi Library Manager Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Dubai Health Care City United Arab Emirates E-mail: hbishawi@yahoo.com http://www.hmsdc.hms.harvard.edu/. Objectives.
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Personal Digital Assistant (PDA): A new Tool for Health Care Professionals in Palestine By Abdel Hakim Bishawi Library Manager Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Dubai Health Care City United Arab Emirates E-mail: hbishawi@yahoo.com http://www.hmsdc.hms.harvard.edu/
Objectives • To define what is PDA and name the advantages of this new tool. • To name factors to consider which should be taken before purchasing a PDA. • To compare between Palm OS and Pocket PC. • To list the websites and resources which enable users to download Medical applications.
Continued… Objectives • To be aware of the uses of PDA in Medical Education, Respiratory care, Radiology, & drug information applications. • To be aware of the Pediatricians’ use of and attitudes about PDAs and new free software for cancer information. • To define the role of the Medical Librarian in the use and support of PDAs. • To keep PDA users current and updated in technology news.
What is a PDA? • An abbreviation for Personal Digital Assistant, a handheld device combining computing, telephony/fax, and networking capabilities. • PDAs are handheld computers that originally were designed as personal organizers. • They serve as an extension for PCs & Laptops.
Statistics • Number of Physicians who use handheld computers increased from 15 percent in 1999 to 26 percent in 2001 and concluded that 50 percent of all physicians will use a handheld by 2005. LaRochelle, B. (2002) Health Management Technology 23(10):67-68
PDA Awareness • In Spring 2000, 100 primary care physicians in the Rochester Independent Practice Association (IPA) / NY each received a PDA. (Dr.Drew Werner). • Most people in our 3,000-doctor at IPA probably wouldn’t have gone & bought one of these gadgets on their own. Glorified calculators. (Chesanow, 2000).
Medical Schools • University of Calgary, Canada. • Wake Forest. • University of Southern Florida. • University of Southern Dakota. • Harvard. • East Carolina University. • University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
PDAs Features • Have and Operating System. • Use handwriting recognition, or keyboards. • Software to perform basic tasks. • Have a display or viewing screen. • Have devices (i.e. cradle, wireless modems) • Are battery operated. • Can connect to a PC’s serial port (USP) • Can be Synchronized with a desktop. • Can be locked for security issues i.e. Only Me and PDA Defense.
PDA Brands • Palm OS vs. Pocket PC • Palm OS: Palm, Handspring Visor, Sony, Handera, Zire and Tungsten. • Pocket PC OS: iPAC, Dell, HP Jornada, Casio, Toshiba, Compaq, Everex, & Acer.
Two Operating Systems 1- Palm OS 2- Pocket PC Windows CE • The difference = Windows & Macintosh. • Palm OS: defacto standard for Medical. • Windows CE: miniaturized version of Microsoft Windows on PCs except 95/98/2000/NT software. Allows efficient file transfer into many programs (Business Community).
Buying a PDA • What operating System runs the PDA? • Memory: expansion cards. • Color: Pocket PC are color. • Does it use household or rechargeable batteries? • What accessories are available & cost? • Speed: Palm OS are very fast. • Applications & programs. • Voice recorder,MP3 player, digital camera.
Which PDA is Right for Me? Operating System & Device Features Respiratory Care 2004, May 49(5):497-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=19http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=19
Hp and Pocket PC • HP presented their HIS solution, mentioned the use of Pocket PC’s by doctors, nurses, and administrators would be a part of the contract to issue certain staff with PDA’s.
How PDAs work-The Basics? • Syncing from PC to PDA: through a “cradle” to exchange programs & data. • Data Input. • Beaming: Sending a program, document, or file from one PDA to another using infrared transmission. PDA to a printer. • Basic functions: Date Book Address Book, To Do List, Memo or note pad, Mail.
http://www.library.uthscsa.edu/consultation/guides/tutorials/businesscards.cfmhttp://www.library.uthscsa.edu/consultation/guides/tutorials/businesscards.cfm • The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has created a flash tutorial on PDAs.
UIC Library of the Health Sciences Peoria • http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/lhsp/resources/pda/core.shtml • ePocrates Tutorial, Johns Hopkins Antibiotic Guide (ABX Guide)
Physicians can: • Read the complete medical records of patients. • Check Lab reports. • Diagnose illnesses. • Write prescriptions. • Communicate with Nursing staff.
General Uses of PDA for HCP • Store reference material • Function as specialized calculators • Aid in the billing process • Control hospital inventory • Track & collect patient data • Perform organizational tasks & scheduling • Access the Internet • Provide patient education material • Read medical journals • Transmit electronic prescriptions • Voice recording. South. M J. 2003; 96(10):996-9
http://mytreo.net/news/archives/000379.php • Two of the hottest tech trends today are camera phones and blogging. SplashData has combined them both with its new SplashBlog. Now, you can publish photos instantly to an online "photo-blog" from a camera-equipped smartphone. The initial version is for Palm OS devices only, such as the Treo 650, but versions for other platforms (Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Windows Mobile Smartphone, Symbian Series 60 and Symbian UIQ) will be released in upcoming months.
ICD-9 – Clear Coder • Physicians can enter their own codes at the point of care, improving coding accuracy and reimbursement rates. • Charge capture capabilities vary widely among software programs. Some programs check for billing errors. • Some coding software automatically audits physicians’ coding for errors, reducing the amount of undercoding or overcoding that occurs & increasing revenue.