Clinical Medicine Apps
March 29th, 2023
On this page:Key ConsiderationsUpToDatePEPIDAmbossMedSchool Geeky MedicsPrognosisEponymsFinal Thoughts
Overview
Learning clinical medicine can be a daunting task - whether you're just starting out in medical school or getting onto the wards. However, there is now a wide range of clinical medicine apps that can help you to nail down core concepts efficiently and effectively. Apps focused on clinical medicine may offer a variety of features such as guides to history and examination, diagnostic support, interactive clinical cases, and point-of-care tools. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which apps are most useful.
In this article, we will highlight some of the top clinical medicine apps, either specifically designed for medical students or aimed at the greater medical community. We will cover the features and benefits of each app, as well as their cost and availability.
Snapshot
- UpToDate: extremely comprehensive guides to medical conditions that are evidence-based and peer reviewed.
- PEPID: a comprehensive medical app including diagnoses, drugs, investigations, and calculators with a symptom checker to aid in diagnosing patients.
- Amboss: a large amount of clinical information in note form, with comprehensive diagnostic and treatment tools.
- MedSchool: a clinical reference app for medical students with guides to history, examination, investigations, and drugs.
- Geeky Medics: guides to history and examination, videos, quizzes, with a large amount of free content.
- Prognosis: interactive clinical cases presented in a fun way and feedback about each case including diagnostic reasoning, test results, and learning points.
- Eponyms: descriptions of hundreds of medical eponyms.
Key Considerations
When deciding which clinical medicine apps to use, there are several key factors to take into account. Consider these features when determining which apps are most likely to meet your needs and help you succeed in your studies.
Aspects of Clinical Medicine Covered
- Look for apps that provide comprehensive clinical medical education resources. This may include guides to history, examination, investigations, and drugs, as well as videos and quizzes to test your knowledge.
Diagnosis Support
- Medical diagnosis apps can be incredibly useful. Some apps offer symptom checkers to aid in diagnosing patients, as well as guides to interpreting investigations.
Clinical Cases
- Interactive clinical cases can be an effective way to learn and practice diagnostic skills. Look for apps that offer a large number of case scenarios that have been edited by specialists, with feedback on each case including diagnostic reasoning, test results, and learning points.
Point-of-Care Tools
- Some apps offer point-of-care tools such as clinical calculators and checklists. These can be incredibly helpful for when you need to make quick decisions in a clinical setting.
Cost and Availability
- Finally, it's important to consider the cost of the app. Some clinical medicine apps are free, while others require a subscription or can be quite expensive. Some apps, such as Up To Date, may be available through your university or hospital.
UpToDate
Platform
- Web, iOS, Android
Cost
- Subscription service, relatively expensive without institutional access
UpToDate is an extremely comprehensive clinical medicine app that offers guides to medical conditions based on evidence-based and peer-reviewed information. The website and app are used by medical students and doctors all the way up to consultants, although the content is more useful to medical students in later years. While the information available in UpToDate is comprehensive, it can also be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to filter the information to find what you need.
UpToDate operates on a subscription model, which can be relatively expensive. However, many universities and hospitals provide access to UpToDate for their students, making it a valuable resource for medical students who want access to high-quality clinical information.
Pros
- Extremely comprehensive guides to medical conditions.
- Evidence-based and peer-reviewed information.
Cons
- Expensive subscription cost.
- Information may be too comprehensive for some users.
- User interface can be difficult to navigate.
PEPID
Platform
- iOS, Android
Cost
- $300 per year
PEPID is a comprehensive clinical medicine app that offers diagnoses, drugs, investigations, and calculators to aid in diagnosing patients. The app also includes a symptom checker to help with differential diagnoses and guides to interpreting investigations.
Compared to other offerings, PEPID is very expensive at $300 per year, and the user interface can be quite clunky. While PEPID may not be the most affordable option for many cost-averse med students, it may be a useful resource if you want access to a large amount of clinical information in one place.
Pros
- Comprehensive medical app with diagnoses, drugs, investigations and calculators.
- Symptom checker aids in diagnosing patients.
Cons
- More expensive than other offerings.
- Clunky user interface.
Amboss
Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
Cost
- Variable - check website for details
Amboss is a clinical medicine app that offers a large amount of information in note form. The app includes features like case-based learning, a question bank, and a library of study materials. Amboss also offers detailed explanations and reasoning behind each question, which can be helpful for deepening your understanding of the material.
While Amboss is relatively expensive compared to other offerings, it may be a useful resource if you want access to a comprehensive and detailed database of clinical information.
Pros
- Large amount of clinical information in an easy to read form.
- Comprehensive diagnostic and treatment tools.
Cons
- Expensive compared to other offerings, with limited free content.
MedSchool
Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
Cost
- Free to try, monthly or yearly subscription to continue
MedSchool is a clinical reference app designed specifically for medical students. The app offers a range of features to help students learn and study more effectively, including guides to history, examination, investigations, and drugs. The app also includes examination checklists to ensure that important steps are not missed during clinical assessments, as well as quizzes to test knowledge and clinical calculators and tools to aid in making quick and accurate calculations in a clinical setting.
While the app offers a free trial, subscriptions are required to continue using the app after the trial period, with costs varying depending on the length of subscription.
Pros
- Comprehensive guides and tools.
- User-friendly interface.
- Affordable subscription cost.
Cons
- Limited diagnostic features.
- Requires a subscription to use.
- No case-based learning, and limited information about specific diseases.
Geeky Medics
Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
Cost
- A large amount of free content on the website, with much of the app paywalled
Geeky Medics is a popular clinical medicine app that offers a wide range of resources to help medical students learn and prepare for clinical practice. One of the key features of Geeky Medics is its guides to history and examination, which cover a variety of topics including cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, and neurological examinations. Additionally, the app includes videos and quizzes to help reinforce learning and test knowledge.
A major benefit of Geeky Medics is that a large amount of its content on the website is available for free, including all of the history and examination guides, as well as the videos and some of the quizzes. Most of the app is locked but can be unlocked for a very cheap yearly subscription fee.
Overall, Geeky Medics is an excellent option for medical students who want a handy and affordable clinical medicine app.
Pros
- Large amount of free content on the website, with a very cheap subscription for everything else.
- Engaging and interactive learning tools.
- Detailed history and examination guides.
Cons
- Limited information about diseases.
- Premium subscription required for a lot of the app content.
Prognosis
Platforms
- iOS, Android
Cost
- Free with ads
Prognosis is a clinical medicine app for iOS and Android that offers interactive clinical cases in a fun and engaging way. The app features hundreds of case scenarios that have been edited by specialists, with feedback on each case including diagnostic reasoning, test results, and learning points. This feature can be especially helpful for improving your diagnostic skills. The app has cool graphics, but the user interface can be a bit clunky at times.
The app is free to use with advertising, making it a great option to help with working on your clinical skills.
Pros
- Interactive learning tools make for enjoyable case-based learning.
- Provides feedback on diagnostic reasoning.
- Free to use (with advertising).
Eponyms
Platforms
- iOS and Android
Cost
- Free
Eponyms is a clinical medicine app for iOS and Android that provides descriptions of hundreds of medical eponyms, from Rovsing's sign to Argyll-Robertson pupils. The app includes a search function that makes it easy to find specific eponyms, and it also has a favorites list where users can save their most frequently used eponyms for quick reference.
While Eponyms is a relatively simple app, it can be a useful resource for earning about different medical conditions and their associated eponyms. Additionally, the app is free to use, making it a cost-effective option for those on a budget.
Pros
- Hundreds of medical eponyms.
- User-friendly search function.
- Free.
Cons
- Limited content beyond eponyms.
- May not be as useful for advanced learners.
- Limited interactivity and diagnostic features.
Final Thoughts
Clinical medicine apps are an invaluable resource during your time in medical school, providing a wealth of information and tools to help you learn and prepare for clinical practice. From comprehensive clinical references like UpToDate to engaging interactive apps like Prognosis, there are a variety of apps available to suit different learning styles and needs.
When choosing a clinical medicine app, keep in mind factors like cost, ease of use, and the specific features and resources offered by each app.
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