This article is a continuation of last month’s article, discussing iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch apps useful to the ophthalmologist. Many of these apps are also compatible with other smartphones, allowing us to communicate with, learn and educate our patients from remote areas outside of the office.
This particular article will focus on journal and record keeping apps.
Journals
Ophthalmology (Free)
By The American Academy of Ophthalmology
The official journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the app version of this publication allows you to read new issues and the most current articles. The app is published ahead of print and allows you to view in-article videos, save selected articles on your device, email images and articles, and bookmark or add notes to content. There is no cost for this app. Version 4.0 was released on June 26, 2014. The journal is 20.7 MB, is available in English and is sold by Elsevier, Inc. This app requires iOS 5.0 or later and is compatible with the iPad.
Unbound MEDLINE (Free)
By Unbound Medicine, Inc.
This app connects to over 22 million journal citations and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed, allowing you to view full-text journals over your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Users have the ability to share articles with colleagues, as well as bookmark searches and articles as Favorites. Grapherence is Unbound’s interactive search technology that graphically represents the influence and interrelationships among journal articles. When the Grapherence button is tapped within a citation, related articles appear. Version 1.10 has an interface design optimal for iOS 7, but is compatible with iOS 5.0. This version has enhanced spell check to ensure searches of correct terms and also has high-resolution graphics. It is 1.9 MB in size and comes in English.
OPRS (Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery) (Free)
By Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
OPRS is the leading journal in oculoplastic surgery, covering aesthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery in the face, eyelids, orbits and lacrimal system. Clients have access to a full listing of online issues. There is a search icon for advanced searching on the journal website and the app supports background downloading. One of the main advantages of this app is that videos are available to view on an iPad. The latest version is 1.1, which was updated on November 4, 2013 and is 5.6 MB in the English language. This app is compatible with the iPad only.
American Journal of Ophthalmology (Free+)
By Elsevier Inc.
This American Journal of Ophthalmology has been published since 1884 and is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes clinical investigations, clinical observations and clinically relevant laboratory investigations for ophthalmologists and visual science specialists. It is one of the most prestigious ophthalmology journals that we are all familiar with. This app is available on the iPad where new issues and the most current articles published ahead of print are available and able to be saved on your device. Images and articles can be emailed, and content can be bookmarked with a navigate feature. Like OPRS, in-article videos are available through this iPad app. The app is free but issues must be purchased for $31.99 for a single issue or $229.99 for a 1-year subscription with additional free 3 months. The subscriptions will automatically renew unless you cancel within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can prevent automatic renewal by changing your subscription preferences in your iTunes Account Settings. The app was recently updated to version 4.0 and requires 19.3 MB of room. It requires iOS 5.0 or later and is compatible with the iPad or iPhone
Medscape (Free)
By WebMD
Not technically a journal but informational for the medical profession, Medscape is a leading resource and is available via this app on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. All features are available for free. This app provides medical news across more than 30 specialties covering FDA announcements, thought leader perspectives, conference news and more. It also features important journal articles. Drug dosing and interaction information can be accessed, as well as medical calculators and health plan formulary information. Physicians and ancillary staff can access clinical presentations as well as workup and treatment information for more than 4,400 diseases. One can also complete accredited CME/CE courses to fulfill licensure requirements. The app was updated July 8, 2014 to version 4.5. It is 11.9 MB and available in English. The app requires iOS 6.0 or later
Record Keeping
EMA™ Ophthalmology (Free)
By Modernizing Medicine
This app, available from Modernizing Medicine, is an electronic medical record system that offers ophthalmologists the opportunity to use an iPad for their practice building and record keeping. Ophthalmologists can tap through an exam and generate notes and bills on the spot. This EMR system has a predictive algorithm that learns the way each individual practices by remembering previous treatments and anticipating your next move. Because the system is Cloud-based it is available on your mobile device so you are not tethered to an on-site server. This app also has EMA Grand Rounds, which allows one to access treatment information from a nationwide pool of treatment data. For instance, blepharitis: data will show you what percent of physicians are using which drug to treat their patients. There are algorithms that provide lists of differential diagnoses, suggested work-ups for certain diseases and suggested treatment plans. EMA has integrated with Sonomed Escalon’s AXIS™ iPad application so images can be managed as well. This system also has a built in coding system that simultaneously creates a bill along with your exam notes. Modernizing Medicine encrypts the data for privacy and backs up and protects data in hardened data centers.
eyePatients ($1.99)
By George Kong Softwares
eyePatients is designed to help eye care specialists manage patient data records and help patients keep track of their own eye conditions. This app can be used as a surgical log book/audit book, research tool, and record keeper. All of the data can be synchronized with another Desktop computer or iPad. The cost of the app is $1.99. It was last updated in May 2014 and is brand new. It is 8.5 MB and is available in English and Japanese. This app requires iOS 5.0 or later and is compatible with the iPad.