Handheld Computing Resonses

Handheld Computing Resonses

John T. Brinkmann, CPO, FAAOP

10/24/2002

Dear List Members: I received two responses to my question about how
people are using handheld computers (pocket PCs, Palm Pilots, etc.) in
their practice:

John,

I have been using a handheld for the past year and a half. Some of the
people I work with call it my dork book or my brain, but I don't
really care, it keeps me
organized and lets me concentrate on the task at hand without occupying
my mind with all the other tasks I have to do throughout the day. I've
found the alarm
feature to be very helpful. Also, I enter important memos say for
coding or Doctor's preferences...Have you seen Orthomerica's bracelink
system? They've taken
things to the next level with the PDA with measurement charts that you
can fill out and send to them at the push of a button.



John

I have used a paltop computer since 1984 and find it invaluable. I
always
used a Psion the most recent being the 5mx. I have now relented and
moved
over to a pocket PC. Until recently I kept my patient notes on a palmtop
and
had over 4500 patient data files. You need to be careful that you are
covered by the data protection act for the UK. If I am on the ward to
see a
patient and find myself having to wait a while it is the perfect time to
write a letter or do something useful. Time is precious. Also like now I
can
write emails while waiting for a patient to come.
More recently I have stored a number of images on to my palmtop of
different
types of orthoses to show patients at the initial assessment.
The palmtop is great for downloading many medical databases e.g. in the
format of tomeraider. I currently have files such as a paediatric
database
and the British National Formulary. This is very useful if you are
presented
with a medical condition that you are not familiar with.
Hope this helps


Thanks for the responses.

John Brinkmann, CPO, FAAOP