Ares will give developers another way to write WebOS applications and will allow fast development through a drag-and-drop interface, Palm said. It’s designed to help Web developers make the leap to becoming mobile developers, said Michael Abbott, senior vice president of application software and services at Palm. Ares will be available by year’s end through the WebOS developer site.
It won’t require any downloads or configuration, Abbott said. The environment includes debugging and a mechanism for developers to share libraries and APIs (application programming interfaces), Abbott said.

Picking up HTML, CSS and Javascript is fairly easy, and indeed many of us are familiar with the basics of the language of the web. However WebOS is harder as one has to deal with the intricacies of Mojo, widgets and what not. This can be as bewildering as trying to learn C++.
Physician coders who are “weekend code warriors” may find WebOS daunting but I think if Palm can pull this through, I suspect many might be tempted to try to build simple medical applications for WebOS. Kudos Palm!

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Ares - a possible boon for physician coders?

You gotta admit, it’s pretty impressive!
I did play around with a HTC Hero but overall I feel WebOS has a better interface. But Palm watch out - Android is getting better and better!

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Google voice medical search

Any chance a program like PediDose makes it to Web OS. I have used it for years on palm os devices and as as Emergency Physician, it has saved some lives with have all the Resus drugs on one page.

Hi Deven. Thanks for sending in Feedback. It’s not only PediDose but lots of other great PalmOS medical software which are still so useful and could do with a port to WebOS. A list such as our Best Free Medical PDA software list gives you an idea of what could be re-programmed in WebOS. An important point is many of these little apps have been programmed by Physician enthusiasts and hobbyists. Unless they themselves have WebOS devices, it is unlikely that one will see WebOS versions of their software anytime soon. You might want to consider emailing the original author of the software and ask nicely if this is the case for PediDOse.
The good news is at least with Classic for WebOS, you can run many of the legacy PalmOS software. True Classic is not free and will cost you $30 but it enables you to run truly useful PalmOS software and have the best of both worlds.
I expect to get my hands on a GSM Palm Pre in the next 1-2 weeks. I’m sure as the WebOS platform becomes more popular and more books on programming in this platform become available, there will be more Physician coders WebOS. The WebOS platform is new and I think we have to be patient.

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Them ol’ Palm Medical Programmes

(via PreCentral)

Medical users are watching Palm. I suspect many are wondering if they should go with the iPhone or give Palm a chance with their promising new WebOS platform. No matter how snazzy the phone and new OS is, it won’t be of much use unless there are applications which medics depend on.
So come on Palm, let’s see the Medical section up ASAP!

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Palm - where is the Medical section?

Software: Procedures- Subclavian Line
Manufacturer: Meister Med
Cost: $2.99
Availability: iTunes App Store

I come at this software as a first year resident, one who has just gotten a handle on central lines in the form of intravenous jugular (IJ) catheterization during my month’s rotation in the ICU. The next step? Subclavian lines. Now, how better do I feel to have a virtual cheat-sheet in my pocket? Much!

In addition to their iSilo catalog, Meister Med offers four iPhone applications: PediDoser, ICD-Meister, the recently reviewed Procedures - Lumbar Puncture, and now, a very simple and straightforward app for mastering these technically challenging central lines. Procedures - Subclavian Line is a standalone multimedia application containing almost everything you need in order to perform a subclavian venous catheter insertion.

First, I explored the Procedure Details section, in which there were Indications, Contraindications (absolute and relative), Complications, Step-by-Step Technique, a Landmarks photo, and (ICD-9) Coding.

I have worked with many different Intensivist attendings, and each has their own reasons for preferring jugular or subclavian lines; though the reality is that different circumstances require different approaches,when there are no other deciding factors, the nature of complications is often considered. Generally, those who prefer to stay away from subclavian lines often site the fear of a pneumothorax as the reason, and those who prefer the subclavian argue that the low infection rate makes it a better choice.

So, the utility of the Complications section of this software is particularly evident. It quotes rates of infection, pneumothorax, hemothorax, catheter malposition, and other complications that may result during insertion of this type of line.

While academic discussions and choosing to employ the subclavian line correctly in the clinical setting are important, your money’s worth is really in the Step-by-Step and video section. Reviewing the text and then opening the standalone video, I feel confident that anyone could skip the “see one” stage of learning. I’m not going to undertake a subclavian line without clinical supervision, but this is a good start and will surely save me from major faux pas. If I could add anything, it would be more in depth landmarking discussion, perhaps including ultrasound-guided techniques.

My apprehension with subclavian lines is related to finding the vessel; I want to be able to get it in as few tries as possible, and not cause a pneumothorax or go arterial in the process. This software hasn’t completely relieved my fears, but it does offer a good starting place.

For less that $3, you can develop a solid approach or hone your technique to this important clinical procedure. It’s well worth it.

Jessica

Many thanks to Meistermed for the Promo code

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App Review: Meistermed Procedures - Subclavian Line

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Palmdoc WebOS Apps in PreCentral

Modality, Inc. and McGraw-Hill Professional today announced that Lange Q&AÔ USMLE Step 1 is now available on the App Store. This app brings the total number of United States Medical Licensing Examination question bank apps created by Modality in partnership with McGraw-Hill to twelve, spanning the publisher’s bestselling First Aid, Lange and PreTest series.

“Board review is incredibly taxing for both medical students and their instructors,” said Scott Grillo, vice president and medical publisher of McGraw-Hill Professional. “The volume of material to master is daunting, and providing students with rapid access via iPhone and iPod touch to the thorough, vetted content in our books will no doubt facilitate their success on the exams.”

“Assessment, time tracking and study plan refinement are the core benefits of our board prep apps,” said Nate O’Keefe, director of publishing for Modality. “Students can now access hundreds, potentially thousands of board-style questions, create individual quiz sessions, and identify their stronger and weaker topic areas. The customization and performance tools we built into the First Aid, Lange and PreTest apps are working in tandem with the innovative Multi-Touch user interface of iPhone and iPod touch to create measurable learning experiences for students that keep them engaged through the weeks and months of board prep.”

Modality offers the following United States Medical Licensing Examination review applications in partnership with McGraw-Hill Professional:
· First Aid Q&A for USMLE Step 1

· Lange Q&A: USMLE Step 1

· Lange Q&A: USMLE Step 2 CK

· Lange Q&A: USMLE Step 3

· PreTest USMLE Review: Emergency Medicine

· PreTest USMLE Review: Family Medicine

· PreTest USMLE Review: Medicine

· PreTest USMLE Review: Neurology

· PreTest USMLE Review: Obstetrics & Gynecology

· PreTest USMLE Review: Pediatrics

· PreTest USMLE Review: Psychiatry

· PreTest USMLE Review: Surgery

In the health science education market, the two companies have also delivered the successful Lange Flash Card series to the App Store, encompassing the basic sciences of biochemistry, microbiology, pathology and pharmacology, as well as the four-part Zollinger’s Atlas of Surgical Procedures app series and the First Aid Q&A for the National Board of Dentistry Examination Part One App.

The First Aid Q&A for USMLE Step 1; Lange Q&A for Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3; and the PreTest USMLE Step 2 CK subject-specific applications are available for $29.99 to $44.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch

Demo video:

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Modality: USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 Question Bank Apps

A while back we did a survey to find out which smartphone will win in the healthcare market. The iPhone was the clear winner because of one main reason: the apps. After some quick research, we discovered there are over 1,500 apps - and counting - listed under the “medical” category in iTunes. We knew these couldn’t all be “real-world” apps, the kind a physician would use at his practice.
We decided to hold a little investigation. After hours of sifting through the details, we discovered that only 733 apps really deserve the “medical” label. To see the full list, check out our blog post at: The Best Medical iPhone Apps for Doctors and Med Students

I guess it’s difficult to sort out the useful from the irrelevant (“iPee” and “Pimp My Ultrasound”? lol) amongst 1,544 apps in the Appstore so Houston has done you all a favour. Go check out The Best Medical iPhone Apps for Doctors and Med Students

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The Best Medical iPhone Apps

I was pleasantly surprised to find Procedures - Lumbar Puncture in the app store. As someone who routinely has to do this procedure, it piqued my interest as a learning tool for junior doctors. In general it achieves this task, but not without some caveats.

Lumbar puncture is a standalone app which cuts straight to the chase. The main screen opens up with just 2 options:

The procedure details button gives you a step-by-step instructional guide to performing a lumbar puncture, including indications, contraindications, complications, equipment and even coding. I found this section to be informative and easy to understand. A navigation bar including shortcuts to search and a place to write notes is present at the bottom of the page at all times, which is quite convenient, although I guess would be of more benefit if there were more procedures in the one program.

To top things off, a video is included, and unlike Blausen’s Human atlas, it does not require the internet to load the video. The video is narrated throughout and is useful to watch before doing your first one. I would have liked to see the anatomical landmarks drawn in, but that’s nitpicking really.

Overall, Procedures-Lumbar puncture is a step forward, and I would love to see more of this kind of app for the iPhone. There are so many procedures in Medicine often taught on-the-job and it’s great to have a reference guide to consult. It would suit rural GPs, first year registrars, interns and medical students.

Of course as with any app it’s not perfect. I passed it around to some of my emergency physician colleagues, and one common criticism was the lack of any guide to needle selection, This is pretty important given that paediatric LPs would most certainly require a different needle, and similarly body build in adults also varies significantly. I think the target audience would need this information, although I appreciate in some countries they would just use what’s in the kit.

The other issue is with the lack of illustrations in the Procedure details section. It would be nice to see some simple diagrams highlighting anatomical landmarks with dashed lines to illustrate their use in triangulation of the LP site. A picture definitely helps one memorise how to do the puncture.

All being said, there is very little to fault from a factual point of view, and we aren’t spoilt for choice on the app store for procedure guides! I give this app a 4/5. It is a must-have for any interns/junior doctors who will have to do this procedure at some point. I hope MeisterMed has other procedure guides up their sleeve - I would love to see some guides on CVC and PICC insertion.

Link to Meistermed Procedures: Lumbar puncture

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REVIEW - Procedures - Lumbar Puncture by MeisterMed

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