Our Clinical Section: 

• ABG Decoder: Free from RNpalm. Requires the values we typically see on the slip.
• AportisDoc Mobile: We’re using this shareware as our document reader. We’ve converted our adult protocols to the “doc” format and are using this program to organize and display them. 
• Doser ver 3.1: A very nice shareware program that calculates drip rates for intravenous solutions, based on the concentration mix and patient’s weight. 
• ePocrates ver 4.0: A classic free drug reference with frequent updates. Version 4 adds additional features. Indispensable. 
• PICU: By the same author as Doser and RSI, a very nice shareware program that delivers per kilogram dosing, in milliliters, for pediatric resuscitation.  
• RSI: Another shareware program: Rapid Sequence Induction / Intubation medications on a per kilo basis. Pediatric and adult categories. Presented in ml (not mg) of the drug, an important distinction, with the solutions themselves referenced in the info section. Thankfully, the same concentrations we carry. 
• O2 Tank: Free from RNpalm. Time left in the oxygen tank, after you input, PSI, liter flow and tank size. Very nice.
• NIOSH Pocket Guide Demo: This is an iSilo document that contains the DOT Hazardous Materials Guidebook in Palm doc format. It is a demo, and thus has limited (about 1/3 of the total) information.
• EMS Skills Log: This one is on trial for 14 days and looks very promising. Set up as an ACLS skills log, it probably could work as a documentation program. You record initial patient information and then check off your ACLS skills (intubation, chest tube, defibrillation, etc.), meds given (with nice drop down menus), IV stats, comments, and a drawing program to capture your sketches.
• iSilo and Pepid Toxicology Database: Free segment of the PEPID Emergency program, coupled with a 30 day trial of iSilo, a document reader. iSilo also picked up on the protocols we formatted for AportisDoc.
• GCS: Glasgow Coma Scale calculator, free from RNpalm.
• FireViewer: Shareware image viewer. Packaged with FirePad, this program allow the user to convert images (and movies) to a file format viewed easily on the Palm.
• ToxWorks: Toxicology database with ingestions, antidotes and poison control phone numbers. Excellent!
• PediSuite: Comprehensive resource for pediatric care. Fantastic!
• Drip Calculator: The best in the business. Complete, easy to use, comprehensive.

Added to the Utilities Section: 

• Noah Lite: A free dictionary. Very comprehensive. 

Added to Games: 

• Froggy: Frogger for the Palm OS 
• Niggle: Scrabble for the Palm OS 
• Solitaire 

We use the Rhinoskin Titanium Slider case

I’ll modify this page as time goes on, adding links directly to the program downloads themselves.

Meanwhile, feel free to contact me at Life Flight: hudsonpb@his.org, or as the webmaster of this site, paulh@acutecare.com 

Paul Hudson, Flight Paramedic
Life Flight
Iowa Methodist Medical Center
Des Moines, Iowa

Hey to all potential PDA users out there.. I had been using my Palm IIIx for over a year now in the transport environment.  I have received the Palm IIIc for Christmas (Thanks sweetie!). I have many great programs on it and also have designed database for the MathPad program and it figures all of my drugs out per weight.

The programs I use:

• For our programs algorithms, guidelines, medications and general reference materials I use Documents To Go. I also track all of our programs flight statistics with this on an Excel spreadsheet. Documents to Go Professional edition now lets you edit documents or spreadsheets on the handheld.  If you are familiar with excel spreadsheets I am sure you could input data to figure your drugs out in excel if you wanted.
• I track all of my flights, times, GCS RTS diagnostic groups with HandDBase. I also have reference to pediatric normals, shock categories etc with this program  I also track all of my education so it has been easier when I have to renew my license. I highly recommend it and am willing to share the applets I have written for this. I just did the year end stats for my flights and was pretty interesting if your into numbers.  Now I have a good idea what my ground times are, response times etc.  Even compared them to diagnosis.  And of course I use ePocrates for medication reference. It is a great tool and much improved since they added pediatric dosing and compatibility information. I use this daily.
• I just found a program on RNpalm.com called O2 tank.  This figures out how much time you have on your oxygen tank based on tank size and liter flow.  Makes it so much easier then doing the math yourself.  A must for those long fixed wing flights.  Use it a lot for our neonate runs. 
• And of course the schedule feature and phone database is also very nice.
• I use many hacks to make it easier but to many to list. If your interested in hacks let me know.

The hardware I use is the Palm IIIc. This has 8 mb of memory and it is only 40% filled up now. I personally don't want to get on the internet with my handheld so I don't even look at internet compatibility when I shop for PDA's. However the III series doesn't allow you to connect. With PDA's and transport medicine the more memory the better.... I wouldn't get less than 8 today. The other one I really like, and a lot of our clinicians have picked up is the Palm IIIxe. this has 8 megs of memory.

There are also slimmer models out there etc. but I have been very happy with mine. The only downfall to getting a IIIC is that my Rhinoskin cover won't fit it (well it sorta does, I still use the cover but it sticks out of the top 1 mm but the top flap still closes, also hard to pen the very very top of the screen.  I will put up with it because the case is so protective until I find a case that is this good for the IIIc). This is a must have case especially if you want it with you at scenes etc. Have dropped it many times and it has always survived..

Like I said I am very willing to share the applets that I have made for my palm and the MathPad Database.  I must remind everyone that the doses that it figures, are for my programs standing orders.  Yours might be different but it is easy to program and fix

I am sold on PDA's and transport. If you would like to contact me directly my email is dasteele1@uswest.net.

I am using a Handspring Visor Deluxe
I have Griffith's 5-minute Clinical Consult
Tarascon's ePharmacopeia
J-file with a number of files
Isilo (free version) as a document reader
MedCalc
ABGPro
OB Wheel
I also have Lexidrugs which is a more complete drug guide. I am not using it while I evaluate Tarascon's.

I also have the backup module for the Handspring.

Please take a look at my website for PA students at: members.nbci.com/palmpa

David Carpenter BS CST PA-S

This listing is taken from the Peripheral Brain, and represents the applications preloaded on Palm IIIxe's issued to Riverside's Family Practice Residents.

For the curious, here's a list of the applications and files that will be pre-installed:

• Skyscape's Five Minute Clinical Consult
• iSilo
• HanDBase
• PregTrak
• PalmPrint
• MedMath
• MedCalc
• ePocrates qRx
• MedRules
• Shots
• KidDoser
• Heart Rate
• STAT Cardiac Risk Calculator
• STAT Growth Charts
• ABG Pro
• BigClock
• DiddleBug

iSilo Files:

- Pocketful of Prevention

- Current Medical Therapeutics

- Family Medicine 2000 (CCS)

- Peds 5-Minute Review (CCS)

- User's Guide to the Medical Literature

- OB Guidelines (Sayegh) Doc Files:

- Consulting Clinic Schedule

- ECG Abnormalities

- EKG Reference

- HCFA ICD-9 Coding Guidelines

- ICD-9 Codes for FP

- Herbal Reference Guide

- Common Herbs

- Intern Survival Guide

- On-Call: Floor Emergencies

- Preoperative Evaluation

- RRCC Call Tips

- Sample Floor Notes

- X-ray Guide

HanDBase Files:

- Call Schedule

- Peds Developmental Milestones

- Peds Vital Signs

- Delivery Log

- Procedure Log

- Renal Dosing

- Serum Drug Levels

- Lab Values

The Address Book will also contain a "starter set" of 225 useful phone numbers and addresses for RRMC departments, floors, etc., as well as resident and faculty pager numbers.

ACUTE CARE, INC. Test PalmPilot

We've purchased a Palm IIIxe to evaluate applications of interest to our client facilities and partner physicians. Here's "what's on our Palm".

• FireViewer: Shareware image viewer. Packaged with FirePad, this program allow the user to convert images (and movies) to a file format viewed easily on the Palm.
• ABG Decoder: Free from RNpalm. Requires the values we typically see on the slip.
• EMS Skills Log: This one is on trial for 14 days and looks very promising. Set up as an ACLS skills log, it probably could work as a documentation program. You record initial patient information and then check off your ACLS skills (intubation, chest tube, defibrillation, etc.), meds given (with nice drop down menus), IV stats, comments, and a drawing program to capture your sketches.
• Doser ver 3.1: A very nice shareware program that calculates drip rates for intravenous solutions, based on the concentration mix and patient’s weight. 
• ePocrates ver 4.0: A classic free drug reference with frequent updates. Version 4 adds additional features. Indispensable. 
• Digital Assist - ER: Complete HCFA compliant assessment and documentation for the Palm! The assessment prints when you sync the Palm in its cradle.
• PalmEMS: EMS-oriented database. Clean design very useful. Particularly impressed with the medical calculator section and the reasonable price ($20)  
• RSI: Another shareware program: Rapid Sequence Induction / Intubation medications on a per kilo basis. Pediatric and adult categories. Presented in ml (not mg) of the drug, an important distinction, with the solutions themselves referenced in the info section. Thankfully, the same concentrations we carry. 
• O2 Tank: Free from RNpalm. Time left in the oxygen tank, after you input, PSI, liter flow and tank size. Very nice.
• AvantGo: Free Palm-based web browser. Syncing the Palm while you are on line retrieves specially formatted web pages for this browser. A trial of the Wall Street Journal comes with the program. You can choose from hundreds of free pages. acutecare.com has been accepted as an AvantGo channel. Look for our announcement of its availability for this application soon!
• iSilo and Pepid Toxicology Database: Free segment of the PEPID Emergency program, coupled with a 30 day trial of iSilo, a document reader. We've registered iSilo
• GCS: Glasgow Coma Scale calculator, free from RNpalm.
• Code Blue - A Resuscitation Simulator / Quiz - in Beta, Uses Pocket C
• ToxWorks: Toxicology database with ingestions, antidotes and poison control phone numbers. Excellent!
• PediSuite: Comprehensive resource for pediatric care. Fantastic!
• Drip Calculator: The best in the business. Complete, easy to use, comprehensive.
• CodeRef: Pocket ACLS, with the 2000 Guidelines. On trial. Shareware.