Epocrates have just sent me an email:

We’re excited to let you know that Epocrates, Inc. was one of only five
companies, including Salesforce.com, AOL, EA and Sega, to be highlighted by
Steve Jobs during the iPhone Software Roadmap media briefing. Epocrates has
already begun working directly with Apple to create a downloadable version of
its clinical products that can be downloaded directly to the iPhone or iPod
Touch.

In the meantime, you can view epocrates on the iPhone Safari browser by pointing it at m.epocrates.com.

View the entire Apple SDK Event: http://stream.qtv.apple.com/events/mar/rtp20e92/m_08770365506i_350_ref.mov

Palmdoc has set up a new facebook group for medical PDA and Smartphone users:

Come and join us!

Update April 08: It’s not out yet, but you can see Epcrates running on the iPhone here (not in the browser but as an actual application)

I’ve been getting a few emails about whether ePocrates is going to be available for iPhone. The only information so far from ePocrates is from their FAQ:

http://epocrates1.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/epocrates1.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=952

Question
Does Epocrates work on the new iPhone?

Answer
Thank you for your interest in using Epocrates products on the new iPhone.

Please note: Be sure to click the link below to receive iPhone support updates via email.

Users can access Epocrates Online clinical content via the iPhone browser. Simply go to Online.Epocrates.com to login (current users) or register (new users).

You cannot currently download our PDA applications onto your iPhone. However, if you are interested in accessing our content on your iPhone without requiring wireless access, we encourage you to register your request with Apple at: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html.

There is also a petition online at Geeknuz

The following has been sent through from Epocrates:

Epocrates, Inc., and Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc., today announced the results of the second annual Future Physicians of America survey, which explores the opinions of more than 1,000 medical students across the U.S. about a range of issues, including the role technology plays in medical practice today and in the future.

Below are some highlights from this year’s Future Physicians of America survey results:
• 44% strongly feel that the use of clinical reference information on their mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants or smartphones, gives them an advantage over their classmates
• Over 60% believe EMR adoption will be driven by younger physicians making practice decisions
• 70% of students anticipate EMRs will be fully implemented within five to 10 years
• 42% believe EMRs could have the greatest impact on reducing errors
• 88% report using an EMR system, and the majority believes EMRs can enhance the quality of patient care

Link to Full Press Release

George Oosthuizen has reviewed The Doctor’s PDA and Smartphone Handbook for BMJ Careers and gave it ****/5:

“If you own a smartphone or a personal digital assistant (PDA) and you haven’t read this book, I suggest you do so now. You are likely to discover a host of previously unknown applications for your device that will help you get substantially more out of your day.

If you’re not a PDA owner but have been toying with the idea of purchasing one, read this book before buying. In just a few short hours it will give you useful guidance as to what to look out for. The book is a quick, easy read, even for the uninitiated.”

Read the full review.

You can view the videos from the book here.

Or buy the book from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or the RSM Press.

Anne Patterson from Unbound Medicine got in contact to say:

Unbound Medicine offers a wealth of medical information available on iPhone. Clinicians can quickly access continually updated information on diseases, drugs, or tests and keep up with the medical literature.

Unbound Medicine’s customized iPhone interface takes full advantage of the built-in Safari™ web browser to give health professionals quick answers over cellular and WiFi networks. Navigational tools include powerful search software, handy indexes, cross-links, and related content. A live demo is available at http://www.unboundmedicine.com/iphone.

Skyscape have just announced over 300 titles for the Blackberry wireless platform:

Skyscape Introduces Broadest Portfolio of Trusted Medical Resources for BlackBerry

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Skyscape®, the worldwide leading service for trusted medical information by specialty for mobile devices announced the availability of more than three hundred medical resources covering the drug, clinical and evidence-based medical information for the BlackBerry® wireless platform from Research in Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM;TSX:RIM). Skyscape’s introduction of these resources paves the way for healthcare professionals and institutions that are eager to adopt BlackBerry smart phones in their medical practice. With this announcement, Skyscape further enhances its leadership in the mobile medical information market by offering a breadth and depth of solution for the BlackBerry that is unmatched in the industry.

“Skyscape continues its tradition of providing users with the widest array of medical information, delivered at point-of-care, on the platform of their choice,” said Sandeep Shah, Skyscape CEO. “Since the days when Skyscape pioneered the delivery of medical information to mobile devices, we have enjoyed an increasing acceptance of our solutions by healthcare professionals worldwide. Over the years we have offered the broadest portfolio of medical information for clinical decision-support for an ever-expanding range of mobile platforms. Recognizing users’ increasing need for on-demand delivery of medical information, Skyscape has leveraged its architecture to create an innovative experience on BlackBerry devices.”

The BlackBerry platform’s core wireless, push technology and integrated security provide an ideal platform for the Skyscape STAT experience. The availability of wireless installs and updates makes it easier than ever for users to access specialty-specific clinical information as well as breaking medical news and alerts. In addition, Skyscape’s SmartLink ™ and Knowtify ™ technologies enable clinicians to follow their natural thought process in diagnosis and treatment, resulting in effective decision-support for their patient care needs.

Skyscape medical resources enable healthcare practitioners to improve the quality of care, reduce costs, increase efficiencies and reduce medical errors. Over 35 specialties are represented in Skyscape’s portfolio. These resources span a wide variety of medical information including clinical titles, drug and lab guides, specialty-specific publications, guidelines, health plan formularies, continuing medical education (CME), journals and breaking medical news and alerts.

“I’m thrilled about Skyscape on the BlackBerry,” said Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, MD, author of The Doctor’s PDA and Smartphone Handbook. “Skyscape’s breadth and depth of content truly make my BlackBerry a tool for clinical practice. I now have everything I need for use at the point of care. A lot of thought has gone into making the software outstanding – intuitive and fast, with smooth integration across the entire platform.”

Press release from PEPID:

PEPID™ Launches Over-the-Air Downloads for BlackBerry® Handhelds

Physicians and nurses no longer have to sync their BlackBerry® smartphones to a desktop computer to add new resources or update medical and drug information

Evanston, Illinois – April 24, 2007 –PEPID, a leading innovator of mobile medical information resources, announced today that it has launched over-the-air (OTA) downloading for newer BlackBerry smartphones with MicroSD cards, such as the BlackBerry® 8700, 8800 and Pearl™ devices. PEPID users no longer have to be tethered by a sync cable to a desktop computer when adding new products or updating existing medical and drug information. As a result, doctors and nurses can be more mobile and stay well informed at the same time.

This new capability is enabled by software components developed by PEPID™ Technology. They allow PEPID for BlackBerry users to download applications and content over-the-air to a MicroSD card. As a result, new and existing PEPID subscribers no longer have to sync to a desktop for new products and updates—they can even register new PEPID products over-the-air.

In addition to products for individual caregivers, PEPID provides referential medical and drug content for hospitals and healthcare systems. Utilizing BlackBerry® MDS Technology, PEPID content integrates into new or existing hospital information systems for enhanced clinical decision-support, better risk management, and improved patient care and services.
OTA is ideal for BlackBerry® Enterprise Server system wide applications, as well as individual PEPID for BlackBerry subscribers. Now all PEPID™ for BlackBerry® users can be more mobile and stay current easier wherever an over-the-air connection is available.

Nirav R. Shah, MD, MPH, from the New York University School of Medicine has published a review of The Doctor’s PDA and Smartphone Handbook for ACP Journal Club.

We host the videos to accompany the book here. Here’s what Nirav had to say about them:

The excellent and free online movie clips provide all the basics a beginner may need, but the companion text is a great reference and contains additional material not found online.

Update on Epocrates and Windows Vista:

Since you and your blog community have shown interest in this issue, we wanted to let you know that all Epocrates products (Palm OS and Windows Mobile) are compatible with the Windows Vista operating system

For Palm devices, our initial testing appeared to show problems, and we elected to take the conservative route and recommend that users delay upgrading. However, after more extensive testing, we are confident that the vast majority of users will have no problems installing and syncing Palm devices with Windows Vista systems. Users can refer to Epocrates’ Support page [http://www.epocrates.com/support/] for more details.

Epocrates is committed to maintaining an open-line of communication for delivering information that we believe will be of interest to our users.
Updates will be continually available in the Epocrates Support Center and routinely communicated to Epocrates’ users.