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Beautiful Display
The 9.7 inch LED, multi touch, 1024 by 768 pixel display is breath taking. Seeing radiology images is going to be a breeze on this device. I can’t wait to see how the iPad version of OsiriX and iRadiology will look on the iPad.
Unfortunately, only apps that have been customized for the iPad can really utilize this display. Most of the apps we mentioned in our “Top 5 Medical Apps for the Upcoming iPad” post have not been customized for the iPad yet – leaving much to be desired from the user experience offered by them on the iPad. All iPhone apps will run on the iPad, but unless they have been customized for the iPad, the screen resolution on the apps is pixilated and not aesthetically pleasing. We’ll touch on this in our conclusion.
Reading on the iPad is also done with ease. The following are screen shots of the app, “Papers”, an app that allows you to search and store medical literature easily on your device. The following screen shots are of the iPad version of this app, and we’ll have a full review of it later this week.
Keyboard
At first, when I started using the iPad, the keyboard was frustrating. It feels awkward holding your fingers in traditional keyboard stance, and then not having feedback when you push down. If I had posted a review the first day I had the iPad, this section would have been relatively negative. With that said, after some use, I think the keyboard is relatively functional.
I’m surprised by how fast I can now type with it. It definitely takes longer than a traditional keyboard, but not by much. Apple is selling a keyboard that will connect directly to the iPad, or you have the option of using a bluetooth keyboard that can sync with the iPad for typing, a more practical method. There are a whole host of other iPad accessories already available or in the works.
Having handwriting recognition capability for the iPad is going to be essential for healthcare point of care use. We’ve mentioned this in a previous post, and hopefully the iPad software updates will produce this functionality.
Battery Life
The battery life is stunning on this device. Apple claims you can squeeze approximately 10 hours out of it, but other reviewers have been able to get more. From my use of the iPad so far, I’d have to agree. A long battery life is essential and really a competitive advantage over other tablets, especially other healthcare tablets.
If you want to use the iPad as a medical reference in your practice, or as a means to show patients pictures or videos, the battery life will be of no concern to you.
Case
If you plan to use the iPad in your health care practice, I’d suggest the below case:
It folds around to cover the iPad’s screen, and can also be propped up in the above fashion. This case enables you to talk to a patient while easily being able to use one or two hands to type or search for key information. Again, handwriting recognition will be key.
*Above is a picture of the iPad in relation to a large Dunkin Doughnuts coffee and a pen. (Essential “accessories”)
Conclusion
Overall, I was pleased with what the iPad had to offer. The device was significantly faster than I anticipated and the screen was brilliant. Does this mean medical professionals should go out and get the iPad for their clinic use? Not necessarily.
We’ll have another post in the next day or two explaining some of the pitfalls of the App Store in relation to the lack of medical applications customized for the iPad. The iPad is only as good as the App Store, and I mentioned some of display issues with apps above. We’ve been talking to developers of medical applications, and will fill you in on what they are doing to make sure their iPhone medical apps are fully utilizing the iPad and delivering a great user experience.
1 2
Below are 15 promo codes we’ve been graciously given from the developers of the MD on Call App. This is one of the few medical apps that is already customized for the iPad, so definitely check it out. We’ll have a full review of the App soon. Remember to show proper etiquette, and please leave a comment letting others know you’ve used a promo code, along with the number you used. If you have some free time, feel free to add some comments about the app. Thanks!
1) EXRR7REKN3A3
WXKTWKR9YJ7K
2) 4WY6Y9TPRTJR
3) LJR67LY3H3HA
4) NRN74FEYLXX6
5) 3YMM666M47M9
6) P3ERWATHWY7J
7) 3NTPJ96NAPA7
9) MLFFTHTMNE4M
10) NJPNPWR69NPL
11) J63AJXE333WY
12) WKNTPRX4A7EY
13) K3PAY6MJRRPY
14) T6N76RP6HTJA
15) J63X3PFYL7E4
MD on Call’s facebook page can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/…
That was quick…Thanks for the review! You answered most of my key questions about the iPad. Everything you mentioned is right on point, and it was a great relief to realize that it fits in my white coat as well! I was expecting most of my apps to be in iPad mode, but was a bit discouraged initially. Cant wait till the rest of them become universal apps, so they can easily be accessed on the iPad.. Thanks for the promo code for MD on call, I used number 1 – great, great app!
Thanks for the review. I am seriously pondering picking up one of these little beauties – for clinically relevant purposes of course. But seriously, for pt. educational purposes – this thing is amazing. can’t wait to see some anatomy program screenshots on this. Thanks for the promo code – used Number 2
Great review (and really fast too!). I’m especially surprised by your experience with typing on the iPad – I thought that would be a big weakness. Anyways, I took number 3, look forward to giving this app a try.
I like the pics in the white coat. For patient education it certainly looks fabulous. I’m still on the fence about the importance of this mid-level device. Will I use my iPhone, Macbook Pro and the iPad daily? I can’t wait to try to try it out live and see if I would be willing to carry it around all-day. Thanks for the promo code…. I took #4.
Useful application and Great review. I took #11
I took #2, I love this application, especially for an intern
Took number #9! Thanks for the great review and great application!
The future is here. I took #7 – 3NTPJ96NAPA7
I took #10 !
Thanks !
Thanks for the iPad review. I’m very tempted to buy one. I will try the mdoncall app on my iphone for now.
I took #8
12 taken.
tyvm
Thanks for the review
took 7
thanks
I took #13, thanks! Self-report outcome measures for patients…. at the clinic, which are then graded and results synchronized with their electronic records file. That would be a great use for the iPad!
Thanks for the great review!
Used #5. Thanks!
Great review. Used NO. 6.
In regards to reading ability, Papers for Ipad seems to lack annotative and highlight ability right now for those who will use their ipads for literature review. I found that the iAnnotate PDF combined with a Pogo Sketch stylus works pretty well. Highlighting interface is fine, if a little clunky for erasing highlighting. However, I think I will be printing far fewer PDFs from here on out.
aw5 – You are correct! We are actually in the process of reviewing/annotating iAnnotate PDF and have found it VERY useful. The problem with iAnnotate PDF is the ability to get the PDFs onto your iPad and off. Its a bit of a hassle, and if you have a laptop issues from the hospital – with extra security, than the program doesn’t work. Papers is nice because you can actively search through google scholar and download PDF files (as long as you’ve logged into your academic centers website through safari) directly to your “collection” in papers. But you’re right, iAnnotate PDF is a great app for literature review.
How is the Pogo Sketch stylus working for you overall? Does it do a good job of fine touches, or is it a bit bulky on the screen? For those wondering what the Pogo Sketch stylus is check out a previous post of ours: /20…
I agree, I can upload the annotated PDFs from iAnnotate pretty easily if the ipad is physically connected to my computer (once I figured out how to do it- the first review in the itunes store for IAnnotate has good directions). I see right now Papers serving as a distributive and storage utility whereas IAnnotate allows the highlighting and annotation. Would be ideal if Papers added annotative ability (I’d be surprised if they didn’t), this would make it a killer education app.
I like the Sketch Stylus, it is pretty accurate even when fine touch is needed. I typed this post with it. In reference to your previous post, on the Ipads larger keyboard it is more than adequate, although I suspect that those wearing latex gloves should be able to type on the keyboard also. Sanitation may be another issue, though, so I can foresee perhaps some type of “disposable” stylus adapting something like the long throat swabs often found in ERs and medical offices. Or a reusable stylus similar to the current form, maybe with a little more thickness if someone is wearing gloves.
BTW, just got an email from the iAnnotate developers, and they are planning some new ways to connect the app to the computer in order to make the sync a lot easier. We’ll mention some of the new sync methods in the post we’ll have up of their PDF app review this upcoming week. Basically, syncing through iTunes and e-mail out functionality are being heavily looked into.
You said you were able to type the post with the stylus, which app did you use to do that? (handwriting recognition) We’re still holding out hope that Apple will build that type of functionality within the operating system itself.
Actually I was referring to using the stylus on the popup ipad keyboard, not a handwriting app (although that would certainly be useful); the point being that the stylus could be functional as a data entry instrument if gloves prohibit direct typing.
Another approach I see to data entry might be keyboards in patient rooms with Ipad dock.
Having used the Iannotate app for maybe 50 hours of work or so reading PDFs (both medical and nonmedical) at this point, it seems to be a very nicely done app, fulfilling what seems (to me) a big need for students, educators, and readers. The one thing that I see is lacking is a highlighting “undo” brush. Currently, every time you enter highlighting mode all the highlighting that you do is treated as one “block” of data, and if you want to erase any part of that you have to erase the entire block. So I have found myself entering and exiting highlighting mode frequently, but this process is obviously less efficient than it could be.
aw5 – our latest post is about the iAnnotate PDF viewer, we did a full review of it. Feel free to comment on that post to let us know if we missed anything. Thanks again for your comments!
We just updated iAnnotate!
Here’s a quick run through of a few changes:
- A redesigned and streamlined interface
- You can receive, modify and send annotated docs through email!
- Transfer PDFs via iTunes USB
- Download any PDF link with the integrated web browser
- Share files with other apps.
- A redesigned document finder now includes favorites, tag search, new/recent documents, and more.
- Text annotation summaries are available to read and share.
- Two finger scroll allows lets you scroll while editing
- Many other minor interface improvements and bug fixes based on excellent user feedback!
We’d love to know what you think, and we’re super attentive to our forums if you have any questions at all.
Also take a look a the new youtube video we put together! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
We should understand that iPad should be used for our access to stored patient care data and NOT for the data entry. I have an .pps demo.
I took #14.
didn’t take 14. Don’t know how to get it installed on the iPad
I believe the promotional codes have all expired or been taken
Rally nice iPad review.This liitle beauty is a amazing thing for business persons, students and also to medical community.Thanks for sharing this great review.
Iltifat,
What brand white coat did you have when you got it to fit? My pockets are slightly too small.
Thanks,
RB