personal digital assistants
BSMS is the first medical school in the UK to integrate personal digital assistants (PDAs) into undergraduate teaching.
You will be given a pda, software, a suite of programs including anatomy study aids, the BNF (British National Formulary), medical calculators and databanks of reference values, evidence-based medicine databases, medical dictionaries and electronic textbooks.
'The most useful thing I have used so far is Dr Companion ©. I am really impressed with what I have seen of this so far and there is still plenty to explore. I used the Concise Oxford handbooks to read up on topics before a lecture and I found it made the lecture itself much more accessible. I have also added a few of my portfolio write-ups so that I can add notes to them as and when I have time without having to look for the nearest computer.'
Reshad Malik, year 3
PDA diary
Chris Wincup, in year 3, tells us how he used his pda over a week.
Thursday – 'I began the day listening to music on my PDA while walking to an early morning start on the Delivery Suite at the Royal Sussex. The day started quietly so I used the Oxford Handbooks to revise some obstetrics while on the ward. In the afternoon I had lectures and used the PDA to make short notes, which I could later synchronise with my laptop at home.
Friday – 'When I arrived at the hospital to start another day I used the Module Handbook that I had uploaded onto my PDA to work out exactly where I had to be for my ward round. It was really handy to find all the information so quickly! Later at home I used the WiFi function on the PDA to connect to the internet so I could check e-mails while preparing some food.
Saturday – 'Although it was the weekend I had another early shift on the Delivery Suite and read over the notes I had made previously on Thursday while walking in. After the shift I caught a bus into Brighton to do some shopping; I passed the time by listening to some music and playing Solitaire on the PDA. When I arrived I used the “memos” function to remind me what I needed to buy.
Sunday – 'I made some notes on my laptop and then sent them to the PDA so I would have them handy for the next day. I also updated my music files so I had something different to listen to for the next week.
Monday – 'I used the alarm function on the PDA to wake me up in time to go to Brighton General Hospital for Day Surgery. After the pre-op ward round I was using the PDA to make short notes on the cases that I had seen. When I returned home I was able to beam some of my notes to a housemate who also has a PDA.
Tuesday – 'While in lectures I was able to quickly look up terms that I did not understand so I was able to keep up with the pace of the lecture. Before surgery in the afternoon I checked my memos so that I was up-to-date with all the things I needed to do.
Wednesday – 'After morning lectures my PDA reminded me that I had to meet my research supervisor to discuss a project for next year. I would have forgotten if I hadn’t put it in my PDA! At home, I used Dr. Companion© software to add to some of my revision notes and surfed the net before going to bed.
'The PDA has really helped with learning; especially finding information quickly at clinical sessions such as ward rounds and clinics. It’s small enough to carry in my pocket and it saves carrying around loads of books and bits of paper. All my work is organised in one place. We can also create information on it to send to other students, so everyone can work together and help each other on different topics. Plus I use it to check my e-mail at home, play games and listen to music.
'Nothing can replace human contact and the PDA shouldn’t get in the way of seeing the patient; but it is a great tool to help understand the diseases they are suffering from.'