Medical Student Handheld Initiative

What is the Handheld Requirement?

In an effort to prepare Medical Students for their clinical experience, Brody School of Medicine is requiring 2^nd year students to purchase a PDA or Windows Mobile Smartphone at the second half of their 2^nd year. 

Hardware Requirement

The handheld or smartphone required is a Windows Mobile device with at least 64 MB of memory. Students will be expected to sync their device wirelessly, at home or with their wireless laptops or tablets. We have chosen the Windows Mobile operating system because it integrates with our current infrastructure. The Windows Mobile device is like an extension of their laptops, therefore training should be minimal.

Software Requirement

The following software from unboundmedicine.com is provided by the Laupus Library for Health Sciences faculty, staff and students. They are: Clinical Consult, Davis Drug Guide, Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests and Taber’s Medical Dictionary. You may use your financial aid money to purchase any other reference materials for your handheld.

Financial Aid Requirement

A cost has been added to the M-2 cost of attendance toward the purchase of a handheld. This should be enough to purchase a handheld that meets the requirement. Once you purchase the handheld, please submit a receipt to Student Affairs.  

Since Federal regulations do not specify increasing a cost of attendance for the purchase of software, you should plan to use part of your $800 book and supply allowance for software. 

PDA/Windows Mobile Selection

http://www.ecu.edu/medstudentcomputing/pda/PDA-SmartphoneSelection.pdf

Cost

The cost of a Windows Mobile device can range from $200 - $600 depending on what you want on your handheld.

PDA Resources

ECU's Information on PDAs  

Educational Uses of PDAs

• Medical Calculators
• HandyCards for studying for boards and tests.
• Resources that should be included in the next purchase of PDAs (resources below free for ECU):
• •  Medical Dictionary (ex. Tabers)
  •  Drug Database (ex. Davis Drug Guide)
  •  Clinical Consult 
  •  Medical Calculator (Archimedes)
• Access to Blackboard
• School Calendar/schedule for students
• Student Phone List
• Email addresses
• Intro to Medicine - patient scenarios /use their PDA references to assist in cases.
• Pediatric Clerkship material for M3s

Other Applications

• Email
• Calendar
• Word, Excel and databases
• Online audience response system (need wireless option)

Wireless

If you have a wireless option on your handheld, you will be able to access information over the internet seamlessly. The Brody Building, PCMH and the clinics have wireless capabilities. Check out www.ecu.edu/wireless

Security

Windows Mobile device must have a password to access data on the handheld.

Training

Training will occur in the 2^nd half of the 2^nd year medical student.
Training will be done with their own laptops and in the M2 classroom.
Each student will receive basic training in the use of their Windows Mobile Devices. 
The Laupus Library will serve as a resource for printing and after hour questions.