iMedicalApps Forums

Mobile medical technology discussion

1. krafty
   

   Editor
   Joined: Dec '11
   Posts: 24

   I was emailed an interesting question today asking how do librarians use iPads in their job. We have heard a lot about how physicians are using the iPad while treating patients but what are librarians doing with them that can't already be done with a desktop or laptop?

   Currently I don't have an iPad, I am saving up for when the iPad 3 comes out, so a lot of my reasons for use are based off my guesses as to how I would use it or how another librarian might use it.

   I was wondering if those librarians who have iPads could post how they use their iPad in their daily work life and what makes it a better tool for your job than a laptop. What is one thing that you use it for that you were surprised to use it for, something that you never thought you would have used an iPad to do but it turned out to be perfect.
   I think there a lot of librarians who like the idea of a neat new technology but aren't sure how the iPad about its use in their work life.

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   Posted 4 months ago #

2. ccaufie1
   

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   Joined: Jan '12
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   My colleague and I use ours when we attend rounds with a clinical team. The weight and battery life of the iPad are far superior to the Dell netbook I was using at first. I can do searches, quick reference and email articles at the point of care; I use the iDo notepad to record the questions I get. I also have a few other apps on it like Skyscape (for Dynamed), Medscape, Hopkins Guides, Dropbox and iTranslate.

   Posted 4 months ago #

3. rharris
   

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   Joined: Jan '12
   Posts: 1

   At this point I have only used iPads for classes on medical apps. One of the nice things about the iPad 2 is that it does have a vga cable that will allow you to broadcast your iPad 2 screen. You couldn't do that with the original iPad. Demonstrating apps only on the iPad can seem like the class might be too Apple focused, but thankfully there is more and more overlap with apps and what devices they work on. Plus I can bookmark mobile useful webpages such as Mobile Pubmed/MedlinePlus to the iPad.

   Posted 4 months ago #

4. MMontgomery
   

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   Joined: Jan '12
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   I have an original generation iPad, and at first I only used it to help our clinicians access the library's resources remotely- mainly how to use the Citrix app. Now I take it with me every time I have a poster presentation or when I'm staffing any kind booth. I can demonstrate how to get to the library's resources without having to haul around a big laptop. I love taking it to meetings, as I can look things up in real time- makes us librarians look great when we can provide instant answers!

   One of my unplanned iPad uses has to do with my experience of a presentation gone wrong. I getting ready to give a quick overview of the library to a group of ED physicians, and the computer was locked down (the CPU was actually behind a locked door- no way to insert my flash drive or even turn the darned thing on). I had loaded the PowerPoint to Google Docs earlier, so I used my iPad as a back up presentation tool. Not great, but it got the point across!

   Posted 4 months ago #

5. obst
   

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   Joined: Jan '12
   Posts: 2

   Same as rharris. And a lot for presentations/conferences via keynote. Taking notes at meetings, keeping up with email, looking up things quickly on the web. But I have to confess that the entertainment related uses of the iPad are more imprtant to me than the library related... It such a great tool when it comes to TV, catching up with missed episodes of Dr. House, loading music and movies from iTunes etc... Oh and yes: testing medical apps for recommendations for our clients.

   Posted 4 months ago #

6. debskolnik
   

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   Joined: Jan '12
   Posts: 1

   I have an iPad2 which uses WiFi only (I paid for it, not work). I load it up with free or institutionally sponsored medical apps and show it to residents when I'm teaching them about library resources.

   I take it with me when I'm attending meetings where WiFi is available, and have taken notes on it.

   Posted 4 months ago #

7. Amanda Chiplock
   

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   Joined: Jun '11
   Posts: 14

   I use the iPad 2 for something new almost every day. I've used it for a majority of the tasks listed here. In addition, the camera is great for snapping shots at library events, or even taking video. It's quick and easy to share, email or upload videos to YouTube. Just recently, a faculty member turned us onto UStream - streaming video. We are now planning to do live broadcasts of library events and meetings. The iPad is also terrific for professional development - keeping up social media sites, and all of my RSS feeds. I love the apps Zite, Flipboard and Reeder for reading articles. I really like that the iPad doesn't require boot-up time - that makes a world of difference to me. iPads are also useful for gathering articles for projects. I find articles in the library databases and then use the app PDF Expert to organize articles into project folders, annotate and highlight. Evernote is useful for collecting and organizing articles I find on the Internet, although it does have other uses as well. Another new iPad project we are starting is conducting surveys right on the iPad with the iOpinion app. We can take the survey out into the crowds and collect answers quickly and efficiently right from the iPad app. There are so many awesome ways to implement iPads in librarianship, and we're all just getting started! PS- I actually wrote this post on an iPad while at lunch - portability and convenience! : )

   Posted 4 months ago #

8. krafty
   

   Editor
   Joined: Dec '11
   Posts: 24

   achiplock8, I love the idea of using the camera for taking video and snapshots. I can think of it as low cost alternative to posting class notes. You use while you are teaching a group of people how to search, EBM, etc. and at the end of the class you post the video on a site (like you would the PPT slides) so participants can view it as a refresher.

   Posted 4 months ago #

9. Amanda Chiplock
   

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   Joined: Jun '11
   Posts: 14

   @krafty, yes that's a use for video I haven't considered. Great idea- thank you!

   Posted 4 months ago #

10. Bonnie@FAU
    

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    Joined: Jan '12
    Posts: 2

    As liaison librarian for the College of Medicine’s preceptors and affiliate faculty, I use the iPad for everything from a training tool to my own personal organizer. I take it with me as I visit the teaching hospitals and clinics to train the doctors and their assistants on how to use the library’s electronic resources and share medical apps and ideas. I use it to organize my schedule and take notes on the meeting for my outreach reports. I use the navigation tools to find my way to the locations I need to visit and to keep in touch with the medical library while I’m away. If I think of something while I’m driving I can make voice notes. I use it for research and working while I’m out and about. The device’s light weight makes it much easier to carry around than a laptop, even a notebook laptop.

    While I’m on campus, I use the iPad for meetings – taking notes, showing off the library’s resources to faculty, helping students look up articles or information. We recently trialed VisualDx and between myself and the Department Head we were able to give ‘on-the-spot’ demonstrations to so many faculty that we otherwise would likely have not been able to secure time with for a sit-down formal demonstration.

    Thanks, Michelle, for your email this morning to the MEDLIB listserv about this forum! I’m looking forward to reading about what everyone is doing.

    Posted 4 months ago #

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