December 4, 2008
Latest Tool for Ohio State U. Medical Students Is the iPod Touch
At the Ohio State University Medical Center, the iPod Touch is literally what the doctor ordered.
The university announced this week that all students in the College of Medicine would receive the devices, which the university plans to equip with medical software.
Justin Harper, a third-year medical student credited with the idea of distributing the wifi-enabled audio-and-video players, says the iPod Touch will allow him to listen to lectures during his commute to school and will put current medical information at his fingertips. He will be able to pull up graphics, watch videos of medical procedures, and search medical reference books. Perhaps more importantly, he says, he will be able to answer patients’ questions more quickly and without leaving their sides.
“It just makes [everything] faster,” he said. “We can have it there when we need it.”
Other medical schools have also incorporated iPods or other portable media players in their training. At Temple University, students use iPods to listen to recordings of heart murmurs. At the University of Michigan, students use “Dr. iPod,” a program that lets them review lectures and patient presentations on their iPods. Ohio State University, however, appears to be the first to give the devices away.
But judging from past giveaways, the concept is unlikely to spread to other medical schools. A news analysis in The Chronicle in March questioned the success of giveaway programs. —David DeBolt
Posted on Thursday December 4, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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I hope this device is hardier than a regular iPod. They don’t seem to hold up more than a year or two. Is the med school going to remember to budget for regular replacements?
— deborah Dec 4, 05:53 PM #
My physician is affiliated with The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and during a routine office visit several months ago, we discussed a certain medication I had been prescribed. I was grateful he used his iPod to show me detailed information, including visuals, that I could have researched online on my own. Having immediate access to accurate medical data is empowering.
The iPod, it seems to me, is a great communication and learning tool when it is used appropriately for doctor and patient education. I applaud the effort!
— Carol Dietrich Dec 4, 06:44 PM #
@Deborah: I’ve got a 6-year-old iPod that gets daily use in my car. If you are only getting 1-2 years out of an iPod, you’re doing it wrong. The iPod Touches are also flash memory rather than a hard drive, which makes them more durable.
— Aaron Dec 4, 09:32 PM #
Hand-held devices for OSU medical students is hardly news, they’ve been getting them for years. Just not iPods. Previously they have received Palms. And it’s doubtful they are free. Incoming students also receive a laptop, which they pay for. A cursory glance over the fees outlined on the OSU webpage would indicate that the cost is likely included in “Equipment/Instrument” or “Uniform/Supplies”. Heck, with an educational, volume discount, they probably only cost OSU about $200 a piece.
— Tavin Dec 5, 09:11 AM #
Watch videos while he commutes to school? I hope he isn’t driving a car.
— Jim Dec 5, 09:25 AM #
How are you planning on sanitizing these things? Just something to consider.
— AC Dec 5, 10:37 AM #
AC- germ issues?
They would get to keep the devices, since they will have paid for them in their tuition fees. They do not need to sanitize clipboards and pens. Same thing here.
— E-- Dec 5, 12:33 PM #
Aaron…thanks for that info…I have had 2 iPods and one did not make past year two…like Deborah…I am concerned with durability…and a flash drive base sounds like it.
— WAG Dec 5, 03:06 PM #
Uh…Jim…you listen to the info…you don’t have to watch will you are driving…i do the same on a bike…one ear open…one ear earbud…easy mate.
— WAG Dec 5, 03:10 PM #