As mentioned in a previous post, having medical texts on a 1-2 pound device is a physical relief for students and others who need to carry these books around. But like their print counterparts, you need to pay for each new edition that comes out.

Unlike its print version, you can use your mobile computing power to search the textbook, and even place electronic bookmarks on its pages. And its “History” feature tracks what pages you’ve read, making it easy to refer back to previous information.

The Eccles Health Sciences Library offers eBook versions of both Clinical Anesthesiology and Current Diagnosis… through a subscription with Access Medicine. Up to three simultaneous users can consult these texts, and can print, email, or download sections or chapters for later reading.

Have you bought a mobile medical text? How does the experience compare to reading it online, or in hard copy? Tell us!

Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology, a trusted textbook for medical student education, was just released on the Inkling platform. Inkling is a textbook application that was built exclusively for the iPad platform and features “interactive textbooks” — basically, bringing textbooks alive.

The interactivity in this textbook includes helpful features such as quizzes at the end of each chapter; a “test yourself” feature where labels on diagrams can be hidden from view, then revealed with a single tap; and step-by-step guided tours of various physical processes. The full price of the textbook is $64.99, or you can purchase chapters for $1.99 each. You can even annotate and search the textbook as you go.

The idea of being able to purchase a chapter at a time is not just a cost-saving measure. It is also a feedback mechanism for textbook writers and publishers. Whether faculty require students to read particular book chapters, or students buy them based on peer recommendations, quality texts that are clearly understood by today’s students (“millenials”, etc.) have the potential to redefine what is considered “best” in any given field or specialty.

Finally, having all your medical texts on a 1-2 lb. device will ease the physical strain for faculty and students alike who previously had to carry textbooks typically weighing dozens of pounds. You can download the free Inkling app from the iTunes store. The video indicates there is a “free chapter” available for test-reading. If you have an iPad, take a look, then tell us what you think!

Preparation

Among our most recent e-book purchases is the book Disaster Medicine edited by Hogan and Burnstein. As the editors point out in the first chapter, disaster medicine is

“a system of study and medical practice associated primarily with the disciplines of emergency medicine and public health. Disaster medicine is concerned with the health and medical and emotional issues of disaster casualties. To provide care efficiently, however, the health care provider must be familiar with several elements of disaster management, including planning, mitigation, assessment, response and recovery.”

The book goes on to flesh out these aspect of disaster medicine in detail. In addition, it covers three basic categories of disasters:

• natural disasters,
• industrial, technological and transportation disasters, and
• conflict-related disasters.

Disaster Medicine is available online to University of Utah authorized users, or just search our catalog.

Support

But in a disaster a care provider does not have time to read a textbook. But most of us carry a mobile device which can be used for quick, on-the-spot reference and guidance. Unbound Medicine’s free Relief Central “mobile and web resource developed by staff and friends of Unbound Medicine to assist relief workers, first responders, and others called to serve in disaster relief situations around the world.” It includes the CIA World Factbook, the Field Operations Guide from USAID, MEDLINE Journals, and Relief News from the CDC, Red Cross, FEMA, ReliefWeb, and more. Install this app now and its invaluable information will be at your fingertips even if the telecommunications network is down. It is available for download to your iPod touch®, iPhone®, BlackBerry®, Android™, Palm®, or Windows Mobile® device.

Your turn!

If you’ve worked to provide emergency services in a disaster setting, what are your recommended tools and resources? If you’ve used Relief Central, how helpful was it?

“Kaplan is offering 100 free e-books through iBooks, Apple’s e-reader for the iPad and the iPhone. For those in the medical field, there are plenty of books to choose from. The e-books range from Kaplan USMLE step 1, 2, and 3, to novels about Intern life. These books from Kaplan are usually $29.99 in other e-book formats. The deal is only valid in the Apple Bookstore, and lasts until August 30th.”

The author goes on to note that while the books can be read on an iPhone (and probably an iPod touch), “they are significantly easier to read on the iPad.” If you haven’t bought an iPad yet but think you might, you can still download them in iTunes, then add them to your iPad later. The blog posting offers screenshots of how these e-books will look on an iPad.

What do you think: will we just move to an e-book reader model for all students, requiring yet another high-tech, high-cost purchase?