Essential Smartphone Apps for Every Doctor and Medical Student

Essential Smartphone Apps for Every Doctor and Medical Student

Modern medicine has come a long way since it began. Who would have thought an 18th-century doctor could have imagined using a smartphone with apps to assist doctors and medical students? Yet, that’s our reality today. Let’s delve into a few remarkable smartphone apps that are making the lives of doctors and medical students much easier.

**Skyscape**

Skyscape is a fantastic app that is completely free. All you need is some time and data to download it. This app is an invaluable tool for decision support, providing immediate and accurate answers. Skyscape is available across several mobile platforms, including Blackberry, Android, and iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch).

When you download Skyscape, you get several free resources. These include MedAlert, which keeps you updated with drug alerts, clinical news, and the latest trial results. The app also offers Outlines in Clinical Medicine, providing evidence-based clinical information on hundreds of topics in a convenient format.

Included with Skyscape is the Archimedes medical calculator, which has over 200 interactive tools sorted by specialty. RXDrugs is another feature offering detailed information on thousands of generic and brand-name drugs, including formulary details for every US state and 5,000 health plans, dosing calculators, pill images, and an interaction checker. Skyscape is essential for any doctor or medical student.

**Medscape**

Medscape is considered the top iPad app for clinicians and it’s entirely free with no upgrade costs or subscription fees. This app provides fast drug reference tools, allowing you to quickly look up pediatric and adult dosing information. It also includes formulary information to support patient care, medical calculators, and a drug interaction checker.

Medscape also offers a disease and condition reference based on evidence, along with the latest medical news specified by specialty. You can even complete courses to fulfill licensure requirements and professional development with this app.

**Muscle Trigger Point**

Muscle Trigger Point is a superb app costing just $2. It’s an excellent anatomy reference tool, detailing referral patterns for over 70 muscles and common trigger points. The app provides point locations, visual reference patterns for each muscle, and written muscle actions, making it a great way to identify sources of pain.

Trigger points are tight spots in muscles causing pain elsewhere in the body. This app is extremely beneficial for chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, and anyone interested in understanding muscle function and pain sources.

**Medpage Today Mobile**

Medpage Today Mobile is an outstanding app offering free CME/CE credits, extensive reference information, and up-to-date medical news. Covering 30 specialties daily and over 60 meetings and symposia annually, this app is unique in presenting breaking medical news from a clinical perspective. Each article explains the implications of the latest news in a clear manner, making it a valuable resource for medical practitioners and students.

There was a time when doctors relied on bulky lab equipment. Now, these incredible apps have made life simpler for both doctors and patients, changing the landscape of medical practice.