LYCOS RETRIEVER
Personal Digital Assistant: Devices
built 199 days ago
Personal digital assistants can provide a portable, integrated platform for point-of-care clinical reference, patient management and data communication. Clinical reference programs allow the user to access information from the Internet and guidelines. Patient management programs allow doctors to access and store clinical information. Wireless technologies have potential for rapid exchange of clinical laboratory results and efficient "electronic patient handovers". Thus, these devices provide the potential for true continuity of care across the healthcare system.
Source:
There has been widespread adoption of personal digital assistants (PDAs) within medicine in recent years. However, information on the prevalence and usage of these devices among radiologists is limited. A survey was designed and mailed to randomly selected members of the Radiological Society of North America to determine the percentage of PDA users, their use patterns, and the types of applications that they would like to see in the future. The use patterns of attending radiologists were compared with those of trainees (residents and fellows). Overall usage was ... compared with the relevant findings in two surveys of internal medicine users. It was found that slightly less than one-half of respondents used PDAs on a daily basis, a finding that was comparable to that in the internal medicine surveys.
Source:
Women who use cyclic methods—oral contraceptives, pills, the patch, or injectable contraceptives—may benefit by setting a daily reminder on their cell phone, computer, or personal digital assistant. Electronic reminder devices are ... available for purchase. The NuvaRing Vaginal Ring®, which is manufactured by Organon, offers downloadable software for computer users that can help remind them to change the ring. The same website also offers a timer that women can carry with them.
Source:
Security is a key issue in the use of a personal digital assistant for electronic sign-out, because portability makes the information vulnerable to unauthorized access. This concern is partly addressed with the use of a password lock feature, which prevents unauthorized access if the device is lost. However, the owner of the device must always invoke the lock feature, which is inconvenient. A better mechanism is to automatically force the user to log on.
Source:
A personal digital assistant ( PDA ) allows you to efficiently access, organize, collect, store, and process various kinds of information, and work with it on the run. It is small in size, like a pocket calculator or a pocket address book. Being a hand-held electronic device, it is designed to fit your palm as easily as your pocket. Unlike an ordinary computer, it is always with you.
Source:
The term "personal digital assistant" was coined on 7 January 1992 by John Sculley at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, referring to the Apple Newton. Earlier devices like the Psion and Sharp Wizard have the functionality to be considered PDAs....
Source: