PDA Buyer's Guide

What can I do with a PDA?

PDAs have come a long way from their rather lackluster introduction almost a decade ago. The slow, bulky, limited-use products of the past have given way to smaller, sleeker devices with a tremendous amount of computing power that all fits comfortably in your hand. And to make things even better, there are literally thousands of pieces of software available for PDAs that allow your device to do pretty much whatever you need it to do.

Through the use of add-on software your options are virtually unlimited, from looking up drug interactions to managing billing. Choosing just the right titles from this extensive collection of applications will ensure that your PDA becomes an indespensible tool whether you are in the classroom, at the office or in the field.

These are only a few examples of what users can accomplish with their PDAs. Because, the thousands of software applications and hundreds of accessories make these devices extremely customizable, their functionality is really only limited by your imiganation.

• Charge Capture / Billing - PDAs provide a ideal way to keep track of procedures to ensure proper billing. Not only do they replace 3 X 5 cards and napkins as a medium for recording billing information, the electronic data can be transferred directly to a desktop or hospital mainframe so all changes are accounted for and transcription errors are minimized.
• Drug Reference - One of the most popular uses of PDAs in maintaining a comprehensive and complete, drug reference. Rather than carrying a cumbersome book, or making a side trip to the nearest nurse's station, drug guides on handheld computers provide up-to-date information on dosages, interactions, contraindications and cost.
• Electronic Prescription Writing - Prescription errors not only put patients at risk, they result in time consuming call-backs. Using a PDA, prescriptions can be written electronically and then sent to a printer or directly to the pharmacy. More advanced prescription programs even check formulary and drug interactions information.
• Reference Library - Because most PDAs can easily fit into a shirt pocket, lab coat, or briefcase, they make ideal repositories for reference material. With dozens of available titles including Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Washington Manual, and The Harriet Lane Handbook, there is a wealth of information that can be stored on your PDA for access at a moment's notice.
• Medical Calculators - With the addition of a variety of software packages that are available, your PDA can quickly perform many essential medical calculations such as drip rates, Aa Gradient, BMI, and dozens of others.
• Patient Tracking - Keep simple profiles of patients including personal and demographic information, or choose one of the many advanced software packages that allow for much more sophisticated tracking such as lab data, medical history and prescriptions. Once entered in the PDA, patient information can be exchanged with other handheld users using infrared beaming, ensuring all members of the care team have complete and up-to-date data. And by synchronizing the PDA with a desktop computer, notes from the device can be immediately transfered to a comprehensive medical software package.
• Internet Access - Virtually all PDAs offer the ability to access the Internet using either wired or wireless connections. This feature provides the ability to access a virtually limitless amount of information from online archives, newsgroups and other websites. While the small size and screen resolution of PDAs does not make them ideal for general web browsing, for quick trips to find relevant information they can prove extremely convenient.
• Simple Organizational Tasks - Because of their portability, PDAs are ideal for keeping track of small pieces of information such as telephone numbers, addresses and appointments. They can also be used to take short notes, read documents and manage email all while away from the desktop.