Expectations of iPad Use in an Internal Medicine Residency Program

Docs love their iPads, but are these tablets meeting the needs of busy doctors in training? Take a look at the journal article titled, "Expectations of iPad Use in an Internal Medicine Residency Program: Is It Worth the “Hype”?

The authors at the University of Chicago found that "While the use of tablets such as the iPad by residents is generally well received, high initial expectations highlight the danger of implementing new technologies. Education on the realistic expectations of iPad benefits may be warranted."

115 internal medicine residents received Apple iPads in October 2010. Residents completed matched surveys on anticipated usage and perceptions after distribution 1 month prior and 4 months after deployment.

Prior to deployment, most residents believed that the iPad would improve patient care and efficiency on the wards.

Luo N, Chapman CG, Patel BK, Woodruff JN, Arora VM
Expectations of iPad Use in an Internal Medicine Residency Program: Is It Worth the “Hype”?
J Med Internet Res 2013;15(5):e88
URL: http://www.jmir.org/2013/5/e88/
doi: 10.2196/jmir.2524
PMID: 23656727

iPad mini - perfect for medical students and residents

Let's face it - medical students and residents don't have a lot of money. Medical students are frequently living off of loans while residents are making less than minimum wage (if you calculate their wages based on an hourly rate). So, the announcement today about the iPad mini should make students and residents very happy now! You can get an iPad mini for $329 and the device will even fit right in your white coat pocket! So, no need for any fancy holsters or straps to carry this gadget around the hospital. Plus, with 10 hrs of battery life, you won't be looking for an outlet during lunch to charge your device.

It's interesting to read how some analysts feel that Apple is now playing defense in the tablet market. They've released a product to compete against Android tablets like the Google Nexus 7, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and other 7" tablets that are in the $300 price range.

If the iPad mini had a retina display option, then I'd get in line to pre-order one on Oct 26. I may still pre-order one anyway, but for now I'll continue to use my iPad since I don't need to squeeze it into any white coat pockets.

Will the Tablet PC Gain Traction?

With so much emphasis being placed on Health Information Technology (health IT, HIT, or HITECH) by the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), will tablet PCs make a comeback in the healthcare sector? Electronic health record (EHR) vendors are making software to be optimized for pen-based entry, but physicians and other clinicians are not adapting well to pen-based computing. They revert to the old mouse and keyboard. Why?

Will we see the Tablet PC gain traction over the next few years among medical professionals? Maybe as more physicians see pharmaceutical representatives (drug sales reps) using Tablet PCs, they will slowly recognize the potential these devices have to offer. Perhaps tablet PC training needs to be a core part of the medical school or residency curriculum. I know that certain medical schools require all their medical students to purchase a specific tablet PC (like the Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet). Will that become the norm?