Dr. A & iPhone: Episode deux

Welcome back to the adventures of Dr. A & iPhone. (Cue theme music) Let me get iPhone out of my trusty utility belt (Insert cool sound effect here). Here we go! (image credit)

Even though I'm still pretty much a novice at this, I've already received a couple of questions. The first is from Rahul.

Hi Doctor, I'm a medical student preparing to begin MSIII. Would you recommend usage of iphone as a PDA w/ medical software? Thanks -R

The second is from Mary Lu:

Yo Doc A! Welcome back from the boonie's of iPhone-land. You've been missed. The PharmD Husband is looking at one of those things to enhance his work as well.. (he's a hospital director of pharmacy,)

He asked me... to ask you... if you get any good ideas or finds on applications that can make his time/life more productive let us in on the info, please? Between us, I know he's looking for any excuse to get a new iPhone!

Let me tell you, I am very much flattered by these questions. In combing the medical blogosphere, I'm not really seeing much as far as resources for those of us with the iPhone. I have no idea how helpful this post will be, but I'm happy to share some thoughts.

First of all, Rahul, good luck as you begin your third year of medical school. I very much remember those days, and, to he honest, I'm glad that I'm done with them (hehe). At least for me, third year was tough. But, if I got through, I know that you can.

Getting back to your question (and this kind of relates to Mary Lu's questions as well), as far as I know, there is no medical software specifically written for use on the iPhone (yet). The stuff that I've seen out there makes use of the iPhone's wireless internet connection.

For example, I've read some things on medgadget that promote themselves as software for the iPhone. What I've seen them do is have the iPhone log into their medical website - and that's what they're calling medical uses of the iPhone. I don't really buy that.

I used to have a palm product as my PDA. At least for me, the most useful medical software I was using was epocrates. I was using this both in the office and in the hospital. ("Mandatory" conflict of interest statement: In no way am I compensated by the company mentioned above. I'm just a happy consumer of their product).

As of this point, there is no epocrates software specifically written for iPhone (yet). That being said, my hospital does have wireless internet, and what I do instead is that I log into the epocrates website via iPhone to find out the medication information that I need. This workaround is doing ok for now. But, if there are any epocrates employees out there - Please write software for iPhone - Pretty please.....

Mary Lu asked about "applications that can make life more productive." In reading the blogs, there's a bunch of stuff that people are writing, but it seems like all of them involve entering programming code into the iPhone - meaning there is not really an easy user interface (yet) to do these things.

I'm always weary of breaking into the software code of iPhone. I call myself tech "educated" but not necessairly tech "savvy." Call me chicken, but I'm afraid of crashing my iPhone and then missing an important call or text or whatever. So, I'm eagerly awaiting easier ways to get cool applications on my iPhone.

Thanks so much for your questions. I have no idea if this was helpful, or not. At least it was fun for me. Keep those questions coming and I'll do what I can to answer them. Well, that's it for now. (Cue theme music). Join us next time for the Adventures of Dr. A & iPhone.....

Blogging Persona

This week, I've been catching up on reading blog posts and listening to various podcasts. I just cannot help but be fascinated by the wide range of topics and ideas that people are passionate about. I mentioned earlier this week that I'm trying to find perhaps a fresh approach to my blog and to blogging. (image credit)

I've never been a person who likes to get into a rut. I like to try to keep things fresh and not get bored. I've never been one that likes to be stereotyped - either in real life or in my blog life. What the heck am I talking about? Who knows sometimes?

Reflecting on some of the conversations that I've had on blogs and e-mails, I keep thinking about how blogging people are in real life. Sure, a person's personality is reflected somewhat in her/his style of writing. But, in thinking about a person's blogging persona - Do people come to expect a certain tone or a certain type of post after reading someone for a while?

Just a bunch of abstract thoughts, I know. I'm in one of those kind of reflective-type mood tonight as I write this. As I place the mirror up to my blogging face, I ask myself what I see? Do I like what I see? I know I have portrayed myself as a certain type of blogging personality - or sorts.

As I'm trying to find my blogging voice again, sometimes I have nights like this when my mind wanders. Is it possible to re-invent your blogging self? Do I want to try to change something about my style - just for the sake of change - just to satisfy my need to not be stereotyped as a certain style? I dunno. Sorry for the randomness, just my thoughts for tonight....

Tadd Fujikawa

On Thursday, in the great gambling state of Nevada, Tadd Fujikawa will be starting his journey as a pro golfer. This is not your typical "amateur turning pro" story. Here's the kicker - this kid is only 16 years old. (image credit)

Tadd has made a couple of media splashes in the past 12 months. About a year ago, he qualified for the US Open tournament, which is arguably the most difficult tournament in the world to qualify for. Then, this past January, he made history as the youngest player in half a century to make the cut at a PGA tour event (professional golf tournament). Here are some quotes from a July 12 AP article.

"I'm really ready for this," he said. "It's something that I want to do."

"It showed me I can compete with the best players in the world and I can handle myself in front of the cameras. But sometimes I get a little nervous," he said.

Finances weren't really a factor in the decision.

"I'm not in it for the money at all. I just want to play with the best players in the world," he said.

Call me skeptical, but I don't think he was really the one making the final decision on this one. Can a 16 year old really make a decision like this? I mean, there is no going back. It's not like he can bomb out of this tournament or a second tournament and then decide to go back and be an amateur. This following quote from a July 31 AP article sums it up for me.

For a high school junior missing his first week of the new school year back home in Honolulu to make a run at a $3 million purse, he offers a remarkably mature take on what's most important in his life.

"I think it's more about me. I think that is more important than golf," Fujikawa said.

I think this kid (and his parents and his other close advisors) are seeing the potential dollar signs in the short term and not the big picture. I think they're trying to take the "American Idol" shortcut to success, fame, and fortune. I certainly wish the best for this kid, but I don't think it's going to work out as all of them have planned.

The sad part is that there really is no backup plan for this kid. If this little stint doesn't work, then it's not like he can accept a college scholarship to play golf - he's now declared himself a pro golfer. If he doesn't make it on the US tour, then his only other options are to play golf tours around the globe until his skills mature enough to return to be a regular on the US golf tour. Oh well, we'll have to see how this story plays out.....

Surprise

When I got to work this morning, my nurse surprised me with the cake above, a thoughtful card, and a "congratulations" balloon. How sweet of her. Of course, the cake was gone before the end of the morning. I guess I need another 30-45 minutes on the treadmill tonight - oh well. BTW, the above photo was taken by my iPhone and tweeked a little bit by iPhoto and then posted here. How neat is that?

Work-iversary

Is your anniversary at work something that should be celebrated? Well, for me it is. I see it as kind of a landmark or a benchmark. I've been working at the same place for six years now. (image credit) For those Family Medicine docs out there, you've probably already done the math and see that I need to take my Boards next year to remain Board certified. That will be a fun process next year.

Big shout out to those newly graduated Family Medicine residents and other newly minted residents who may be starting new jobs today. For the great majority of people (in the US), residency ended June 30th. and the new graduates usually take July off to take their Boards and/or vacation, and then join the real world on August 1st with their new jobs. At least that's how I started.

Of course, the practice I'm at right now placed me on call overnight on August 1st. That was quite a joy. I remember that night on call. It's not like it was that busy, but it was like I was a first year resident all over again. I couldn't find my way around the hospital. I didn't know how to work the computers or the dictation machine. Looking back it was quite comical.

But, I got through it and not it's six years later. Every so often I get the "business" talk from the senior partners about how well or not well I'm doing from a business standpoint for the practice. "The numbers" as they call them always could be better. Industry in the part of the state is not exactly growing, even maybe getting more economically challenging.

With decreasing jobs around here means decreasing people with health insurance. Of course it's not great for patients, but from a business standpoint, that makes things challenging for me as well in trying to improve my business standpoint. Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining. It's just when I reach a work anniversary like this, it doesn't hurt to re-evaluate things.

When I look at my peers whom I graduated residency with a few years ago, some of them have had six different jobs in these six years - some even more than that. The medicine industry is not immune to the turbulent business cycle that's taking place in this part of the state and region.

So, all in all, I'm happy where I'm working. Yes, it's an economically deprived area of the state. Yes, young people and young families are leaving the area for success elsewhere in the country. And, yes, I myself could probably move down south or out west somewhere to make more money and have a better lifestyle with less on-call hours.

But, this is home for me. I was born in this area. I grew up in this area. My family is still in this area. I could not see myself living or working anywhere else. This post is probably one huge rationalization of why I'm still here. But, I don't care. I still love what I do and I have no regrets on my career choice. How many docs can say that these days?

Rest & Relaxation

Absence makes the heart grow fonder - This source credits Eleanor Roosevelt with this quote. I don't know about that, but this quote certainly applies right now in my blogging life. For most of July, as you know, I've kind of stepped away from posting.

What have I been doing? Well, I got an iPhone - and I'll talk more about that in a minute. One of the commitments I made to myself this summer was to take a little bit more rest and relaxation for myself. Getting away from my computer is a major challenge for me, but I got outside, and made a new commitment to exercise (I've been a slob for quite a while now).

I've also tried to re-connect with my non-blog friends. We've talked about them before on this blog. Unfortunately, I've neglected my blog friends somewhat. Thanks for your understanding for me being away. And, thanks for all the e-mails that people have sent me just to say hello or to check up on me.

I wanted to clarify again that I did not take a break because "someone" stopped me or because I was afraid of blogging. I never thought about quitting. As Dr. Crippen so eloquently said, sometimes you just need to recharge the batteries. (In no way am I comparing this piddley little blog to the mighty NHS Blog Doctor. Hope you come back soon Dr. Crippen.)

So, I've put the training wheels on and trying to find my way back to blogging. In the past, I've done a lot of news items. I'm thinking of taking a slightly different direction, but not sure yet. We'll just see how this thing evolves (again).

As previously mentioned, I purchased an iPhone. And, besides the total coolness factor, I've really tried to apply it to my professional life - and I may be blogging a bit about that. This thing has wi-fi and so does my hospital. So, I'm trying to do things like look up my patient lists and labs. We'll just have to see how that goes.

I've also been trying to read all that I can about medical applications for the iPhone. I've been reading Medgadget and some iPhone sites out there. If anyone out there has some suggestions, post a comment here and I'll check it out.

I also have a new interest in listening to podcasts - Of course, My Three Shrinks and Dashing MD are my favorites. But, I've also found some iPhone podcasts and trying to find some iPhone podcasts specifically dedicated to the iPhone in medicine.

So, that's the short story of what I've been doing this month. Maybe I'll share more of what I've been doing this month in future posts. It's great to be back blogging again....

iPhone

Guess what I got last weekend? To be fair, I have to give you the full disclosure. I own an iMac, iBook, and iPod. Plus, the first computer I ever sat at was an Apple IIe. So, this definitely qualifies me as an a Apple advocate - or, as others call me, an Apple freak.

All that being said, this is the coolest gadget ever! Like I don't have enough reasons why I haven't been blogging lately. The iPhone has successfully made me forsake my work and family for the joy of an iPod, cell phone, and organizer - all rolled into one device. LOL

Maybe I can blog from my iPhone, or write and post to twitter? That is in addition to sending text messages, checking my e-mail, watch videos, listen to podcasts, and all the other cool stuff this thing does. Forget Harry Potter - iGot the iPhone. Yay!

Update: What would you do for an iPhone? Check out what this guy did....

Update

Seve Ballesteros, one of my favorite golfers, announced his retirement Monday on the eve of the beginning of the British Open this week. Here's a quote from the Associated Press article.

Ballesteros officially retired from golf on Monday, ending a charismatic run filled with spectacular shots that carried him to a record 50 victories on the European Tour, five major championships and a Ryder Cup career that helped Europe shed its underdog image.

Ballesteros didn't just win majors. He won them with shots that won't be forgotten, perhaps the most famous a recovery from the parking lot along the 16th hole at Lytham in 1979. He also won in 1984 at St. Andrews, beating Tom Watson, and he captured his final major in 1988 at Lytham by holding off Nick Price.

I remember watching this guy on television. And, he would come up with these crazy shots, and actually pull them off. It's sad to see him go. But, when asked why he was retiring, he simply said this...

"I don't have the desire," Ballesteros said.

That quote has been circling in my mind since yesterday when I heard it. And, that basically sums up my attitude toward blogging right now - I just don't have the desire. It's not that I hate it, and I certainly don't want to quit. But, right now, so to speak, "I'm just not feeling the blogging bug."

So, my blog break will continue. I just wanted to update everybody on what was going on. Thanks for all your e-mails checking up on me. I want to make it clear that there was no "event" or no person (other than me) that suddenly halted my blogging.

I am enjoying my summer and hope to be writing new posts soon. Don't worry, I'll be blog hopping and leaving comments every once in a while. Take care and talk to you soon....

Blog break

Taking a little time off to enjoy the summer. Back soon....

Independence Day Podcast

Opening Music: In honor of the closing of this club in New York City.

In The News:
Courtesy of Cathy's Place: The banning of smokers by the Cleveland Clinic

From Fat Doctor: AMA News article, "Blog At Your Own Risk."
(I'm mentioned in this AMA article - Yeesh!)

Around the Blogosphere:
The #1 Dinosaur talks about Ratings, Rankings, and Grades (oh my)

Next, just some really random thoughts on the first days of residency.

Closing Music: In my opinion, the most patriotic song I've ever experienced.
(I'd give it away with a link, but, this time you have to listen to the podcast. HA!)

I've been messing a little bit with my Garageband software. I think the sound quality is a little better. Enjoy Podcast #7! Download in mpeg-4 (11mb) or mp3 (32mb) format.