Original Article

Clinical and Educational Uses of Handheld Computers

Authors: Dario M. Torre, MD, MPH, Scott M. Wright, MD

Abstract

Handheld computers, also known as personal digital assistants (PDAs), are becoming an increasingly valuable aid to physicians at the point of care. We review the use of handheld computers and their impact in clinical practice and medical education. Clinicians commonly use PDAs to access patient data and as a clinical reference tool. In medical education, handheld computers are most frequently used to track patient encounters and procedures done during medical school rotations and residency training. This report describes some interesting applications for present and future use of PDAs in inpatient care and medical education. Physicians and educational programs not using PDAs may wish to consider incorporating this technology.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Palm web site. Available at: http://www.palm.com/. Accessed April 18, 2002.
 
2. New England Journal of Medicine web site. PDA services. Available athttp://nejm.org/_downloads/palm_services.asp. Accessed February 19, 2002.
 
3. Embi PJ. Information at hand: Using handheld computers in medicine. Cleve Clin J Med 2001; 68: 840–846, 848.
 
4. Ebell MH, Gaspar DL, Khurana S. Family physicians’ preferences for computerized decision support hardware and software. J Fam Pract 1997; 45: 137–141.
 
5. Blackman J, Gorman P, Lohensohn R, et al. The usefulness of handheld computers in a surgical group practice. Proc AMIA Symp 1999: 686–690.
 
6. Shiffman RN, Freudigman M, Brandt CA, et al. A guideline implementation system using handheld computers for office management of asthma: Effects on adherence and patient outcomes. Pediatrics 2000; 105: 767–773.
 
7. Ebell MH, Gaspar DL, Khurana S. Family physicians’ preferences for computerized decision support hardware and software. J Fam Pract 1997; 45: 137–141.
 
8. Lapinsky SE, Weshler J, Mehta S, et al. Handheld computers in critical care. Crit Care 2001; 5: 227–231.
 
9. Criswell DF, Parchman ML. Handheld computer use in US family practice residency programs. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2002; 9: 80–86.
 
10. Alderson TS, Oswald NT. Clinical experience of medical students in primary care: Use of an electronic log in monitoring experience and in guiding education in the Cambridge Community Based Clinical Course. Med Educ 1999; 33: 429–433.
 
11. Malan TK, Haffner WH, Armstrong AY. Handheld computer operating system program for collection of resident experience data. Obstet Gynecol 2000; 96: 792–794.
 
12. Garvin R, Otto F, McRae D. Using handheld computers to document family practice resident procedure experience. Fam Med 2000; 32: 115–118.
 
13. Bird SB, Zarum RS, Renzi FP. Emergency medicine resident patient care documentation using a handheld computerized device. Acad Emerg Med 2001; 8: 1200–1203.
 
14. Beasley BW. Utility of palmtop computers in a residency program: A pilot study. South Med J 2002; 95: 207–211.
 
15. Krippendorf RL, Simpson DE, Schiedermayer D. Promoting reflective teaching with personal digital assistants. Acad Med 1999; 74: 577.
 
16. Schmidts MB. OSCE logistics: Handheld computers replace checklists and provide automated feedback—objective structured clinical examination. Med Educ 2000; 34: 957–958.
 
17. Helwig AL, Flynn C. Using palmtop computers to improve students’ evidence-based decision-making. Acad Med 1998; 73: 603–604.
 
18. Sullivan L, Halbach JL, Shu T. Using personal digital assistants in a family medicine clerkship. Acad Med 2001; 76: 534–535.
 
19. Bluetooth web site. Wireless technology page. Available athttp://www.bluetooth.com/tech/works.asp. Accessed February 19, 2002.