Tarascon Pediatric Emergency Pocketbook
Tarascon Pediatric Emergency Pocketbook
OS Tested: Palm
OS Available: Palm, Pocket PC
Tested on: Tungsten C
Written by: David Stockwell, MD
Review Written: March 30th, 2004
Version: 1st Handheld version, 4th Version of the text
Platform: Skyscape
Memory Required: ~2 MB ; about 1mb can reside on an expansion card
Installation: Easy
Speed: Excellent
Crashes: None encountered
Features: This is a handheld adapted version of a popular pocketbook by the same name. Tarascon is well known for its successful pocketbooks and it is nice to see that they are interested in continuing their successes into PDA format. Medical Wizards has adapted this pocketbook well.
As the title suggests the product focuses on emergency medicine. However there is a great deal of additional information. Also there are integrated drug calculators that are simple to use. A nice combination bug/drug antimicrobial therapy guide is really very helpful and one of the better ID guides found in any product.
The sections vary in length with some very extensive and some just a few (or one) items in length. Below is the complete list of sections. Included is what one would expect from an ED text, lots of code drugs, tube sizes, etc. However many of the sections have much more information than you would expect from what sounds like a narrowly focused pocketbook.
- Abbreviations
- Abuse
- Advanced Life Support
- Airway Management
- Analgesia
- Anaphylaxis
- Apparent Life Threatening Event
- Biologic, Chemical, Radiation Exposures
- Burns and Burn Therapy
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Development-Growth
- Endocrinology
- Environmental Disorders
- Fluids & Electrolytes
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology & Oncology
- Hypertension
- Immunizations
- Infectious Disease
- ICU Guidelines for admission
- Kawasaki's Disease
- Medications
- Metabolic
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Nutrition
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedics
- Pulmonology
- Reyes' Syndrome
- Submersions (Drowning)
- Toxicology
- Trauma
- Urology
- Vascular Access
- Vitals by Age
Usability/Navigation:
While my first impression was that the navigation was difficult, however that has changed. There are two basic ways to navigate to your desired topic. First the above listed sections can be tapped and their individual topics are revealed in typical cascading folder type of presentation. Also if you are unsure where to find your topic then a very helpful index can assist you. It is a nice touch and the index has become my primary mode of searching for topics.
There are number of images and most of them are focused on x-ray interpretation and found in the orthopedic section. The more impressive of the ones found was a cervical spine drawing. It had a nice design and helpful tips. There are also helpful algorithms.
This will also be a very helpful product for an ICU rotation (either NICU or PICU) as there is a great deal of information germane to both specialties.
I have to say that I could list my usual complaints about not enough images, not enough utilization of a handheld's ability but that would be incorrect. This is a great product and once you get used to the navigation it will be a VERY helpful program to use.
Price: $29.99
Worth the Price?
Absolutely, this is probably the best combination of price and functionality available in pediatric handheld products today.
Updates: One year of free updates, then at a reduced price.
Pros:
- Great Value for the money
- Terrific infection guide
- Great use of handheld's ability
- Nice images, good algorithms
- Excellent index
Cons:
- Could use color images for rashes (and that's a soft call)
Bottom line: This is a terrific product at a very reasonable price. Its functionality is way ahead of the curve. If you spend any time in the ED, any ICU or as a hospitalist this is an indispensable product.
|
