Fitzpatrick’s dermatology textbooks are a mainstay of dermatologists, general practitioners, and emergency physicians.

The texts, found on almost every clinic and hospital shelf, can now be accessed in medical app format.

For the avid learner there is Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Practice which is the two volume text converted into an iphone app, for the eager learner the smaller handbook conversion is Fitzpatrick’s Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology ($ 74.99), and for the on the fly learner is Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology Flashcards.

The Flashcards include 240 dermatology findings with 12 cards of common terminology including nodule, pustule, and papule as well as 228 pathology findings.

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Each card has one high quality photo followed by a quick review of clinical manifestations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and management.

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The Q & A format is the highlight of the medical app. It randomly picks a card showing you only the photo and you are prompted to pick a diagnosis. Once you reveal the answer you are prompted to describe the clinical manifestations. After revealing the answer you are prompted for the differential diagnoses and then finally the treatment. This style allows the user to learn each piece of information separately.

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The user interface is easy to manage and optimized for both the iPhone and iPad. It also allows the user to mark cards for review and add notes. I would like to see a few tweaks including hyperlinking, highlighting, and swipe functions (see below). With these small additions this app will be a boon for many students and physicians.

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Price

  • $ 48.99

Likes

  • I love the flashcard review

Dislikes

  • Hyperlink the various disorders under the differential diagnosis section
  • Add highlight text function
  • Add swipe left and right rather than buttons for toggling between flashcards
  • Link the iPhone and iPad apps downloaded by the same user so notes are transferable

Healthcare providers that would benefit from the app

  • Medical students as well as residents, mid-levels, and physicians in primary, urgent, or emergency care.

Conclusions

  • The amount of review packed into this app is fabulous and extremely high yield. Add a few tweaks (especially hyperlinking the differential diagnosis section) and I would try to sell it myself. As of publish, no Android version is available.

Type of Device used to review app–iPhone 5 and iPad with retina display.

iTunes Link

Rating: 4.5 Stars- easy and high yield
1. User Interface: 4 stars- see tweaks offered in suggestions section
2. Multimedia usage: 4 stars- more than one photo per diagnosis
3. Price: 5 stars- expensive but worth the investment
4. Real world applicability: 5 stars- highly useful information

Disclaimer:
This post does not establish, nor is it intended to establish, a patient physician relationship with anyone. It does not substitute for professional advice, and does not substitute for an in-person evaluation with your healthcare provider. It does not provide the definitive statement on the subject addressed. Before using these apps please consult with your own physician or healthcare provider.