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Featured App: ePocrates Essentials

Dedicated fans of Digital Assistance will recall our review of the ePocrates Rx drug reference in OB.GYN, NEWS 2 years ago. Although we make a conscious effort to present entirely new material each month, we simply couldn't ignore the recent developments that have taken place at ePocrates. What began in 1999 as a focused PDA drug database has now evolved into an integrated suite of patient care applications featuring drug prescription, disease management, and diagnostic testing information.

In its current rendition, ePocrates Essentials combines ePocrates Rx Pro, ePocrates Dx, and the recently released ePocrates Lab. Familiar to most, ePocrates Rx Pro includes an ever-expanding drug and alternative medicine compendium (more than 3,500 monographs at last count).

Information on dosing, contraindications, interactions, adverse reactions, cost, and other matters (mechanism, pregnancy/lactation issues, etc.) is still available from a base-of-screen pop-up menu. The red MultiCheck icon along the bottom allows users to select up to 30 medications to check for specific interactions. Subscribers may elect to configure their versions with regional health plan-specific formulary information at the time of program installation.

ePocrates Dx is a medical reference that includes information on basics, diagnosis, and therapy for more than 1,200 diseases and conditions. Content and organization is based on Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult and is seamlessly linked with ePocrates Rx Pro and ePocrates Lab (lower image) where appropriate. ePocrates Lab, the most recent addition to the suite, is a diagnostic test reference that includes information on collection, interpretation (both "high" and "low" values), and cost/billing for hundreds of diagnostic tests. A drop-down navigation box allows searches by test name, specimen type, or by panel. Embedded links permit instant access to related content in ePocrates Dx and ePocrates Rx Pro.

ePocrates Essentials is available (for Palm OS devices only) from the company Web site (www.epocrates.com). This suite of applications requires 6.3 megabytes of free memory on device and will not run off expansion cards. A 1-year subscription costs $139.99 and includes an AutoUpdate with every hot-sync!

Accessorize: pocketRadio

If "whistle while you work" just doesn't cut it for you, maybe an FM tuner for your PDA will really get you touch-and-tapping. iBIZ Technology Corp. has developed an expansion card-based pocketRadio for Palm OS and Pocket PC devices. After installing the software onto your handheld, just slip in the included card (secure digital for Palm OS devices; CompactFlash for Pocket PC version) and you're ready for tunes! A very pleasant and intuitive user interface includes a volume slider and mute function, Auto Scan and manual tuning controls, and touch-tap buttons for up to 18 saved stations (organized as three groups of six). Standard (1/8-inch plug) stereo earphones are required for listening and are included with software and tuner card. This accessory is available for $39.99 at the iBIZ store (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/ibizpda).

Surf This Site: Handango.com

Looking for some software for that shiny new toy in your pocket? Surf over to handango.com. Handango's Web site catalogs more than 35,000 applications for Palm OS, Pocket PC, Symbian, BlackBerry, and Linux handhelds. Bells and whistles for your smart-phone? Handango's got those, too! Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, Handango has redesigned its Web site.

Fundamental changes include targeted, device-specific content. Just specify handheld manufacturer/model from the home page and you get a listing of only those applications compatible with your device. Flyout menu navigation limits required clicking and Enhanced Search helps to hone in on what you need. If you're only there to browse, check out the familiar links to Best Selling. New, Updated, Featured, and Essential Software, along with Customer Picks (categorized by operating system and application). Product Details (features, support, requirements); an Overview description; and User Reviews are included for each title. A downloadable trial version is available for most offerings.

One-stop shopping for handheld software? You bet! Check out handango.com today.

BY THOMAS G. MCLEOD, M.D., AND JON O. EBBERT, M.D.

DR. THOMAS G. MCLEOD and DR. JON O. EBBERT are with the division of primary care internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Their reviews are independent evaluations, and they receive no compensation from and do not consult with the manufacturers of the products evaluated in this column.