Many tools are available that providers can use in the daily practice of dermatology to improve patient care and make medical practices run more efficiently. Perhaps, nothing has revolutionized daily life more in the last 10 years than the introduction of smartphones and tablets.
While many have grown accustomed to using these devices in their personal lives, they have increasingly been making their way into professional practice as well; utilization of both electronic medical records (EMR) and medical apps that can be accessed and used on smartphones and tablets have been expanding rapidly. A number of apps are available specifically for dermatology providers that can aid in patient care and improve clinician quality of life. Following is a review of some dermatology apps for smartphones and tablets and their strengths and weaknesses.
DermGrandRounds – (iOS only) is intended as a learning resource for dermatologists, dermatology residents, as well as dermatology physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Members are presented with photos supplied by other participants of dermatologic conditions for which they can input their top 2 differential diagnoses to compete for cash prizes, which are later awarded based upon the participant’s competence. The app also has a participant sourced dermatology text known as Wiki Skin Atlas that is also integrated. For those who do not have an iOS device, there is a web-based version available. For more information, please visit www.dermgrandrounds.com.
Strengths: Good aid for visual identification, memory practice and learning.
Weaknesses: The Wiki Skin Atlas has not yet developed to the point where it is a useful resource. Perhaps with time, more user data will make it a more robust resource.
Dermoscopy 2-Step Algorithm – (Android, iOS) is sponsored by 3Gen, the manufacturers of the DermLite brand of dermoscopes, and is authored by Ashfaq Marghoob, MD, Richard Usatine, MD and Natalie Jaimes, MD. The app presents the 2-step algorithm method for interpretation of lesions using dermsocopic patterns. It is a useful tool for those who have attended a dermoscopy training course as it walks the user through evaluation of individual lesions. The images of the various pigment and vascular patterns used to interpret lesions are particularly helpful. The application offers 50 self-study cases.
Strengths: Excellent practice aid for the user in dermoscopy algorithm practice.
Weaknesses: The algorithm is wordy requiring excessive scrolling, which makes repeated use of the app time-consuming.
Drugs & Bugs – (Android, iOS) is produced by the Monthly Prescribing Reference. This app allows medical professionals to search by infection type: bacterial, viral, fungal, malarial, parasitic-protozoal, scabies and lice. The app provides a list of drugs indicated for the infection type along with drugs that have proven efficacy. The user can select a treatment where the app will provide more information on the chosen drug including dosing, contraindications, warnings, drug interactions, adverse reactions and how the medication is supplied.
Strengths: Offers quick access to appropriate anti-infective agents.
Weaknesses: Not formatted for larger screens, at least in iOS version.
Epocrates – (Android, iOS) offers a searchable database of medications that includes dosing with an integrated pediatric dosing calculator, contraindications, adverse reactions, drug interactions, safety and monitoring, pharmacology, pricing in many cases and photographs of the medication. It has the additional functionality of what the app terms “DocAlert Messages” that contain healthcare provider alerts from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA. The app also offers a drug interaction and pill identification tool. Additionally the app offers medical calculators and tables for reference use. Lastly, it has a link to the companion app, Epocrates Bugs + Drugs.
Strengths: Robust amount of data particularly with pediatric dosing calculator and medication pricing information.
Weaknesses: Distracting pop-up for upgrade to premium services.
Epocrates Bugs + Drugs – (Android, iOS) uses location-based data to provide local bacteria identification frequency and susceptibility data to the user for commonly isolated bacteria in a choice of either urine, blood or skin cultures. It is possible to view the most common isolates by region and the current real-time bacterial susceptibility to allow the user to make an educated selection of antibacterial agents while awaiting individual culture results.
Strengths: Real-time information to geographic-based bacterial frequency and susceptibility.
Weaknesses: Anaerobic organisms are excluded.
GoodRx – (Android, iOS) is available for both prescribers and patients. This app allows users to locate the lowest price based upon location for any medication for self-pay patients. While this is useful for the uninsured, it also is useful for cosmetic prescriptions. Once users identify the pharmacy with the best price, they select it and are provided a GoodRx discount coupon to show at the pharmacy in order to receive the quoted price.
Strengths: Offers patients real-time prices and discounts for both self-pay and cosmetic prescriptions.
Weaknesses: Discount cards cannot be printed and handed to the patient; patients need to access the app on their own and present to the pharmacy.
Medscape – (Android, iOS, Windows) allows the user to access a wide variety of information at no cost, including information on dermatology specific news articles, reference information on medical conditions both in dermatology and the other medical specialties, a searchable collection of medication monographs along with dosing guidelines, a drug interaction checker, continuing medical education (CME) materials and post-tests and information on medical tests and procedures.
Strengths: This is probably the closest thing to a free medical textbook for practitioners. The drug interaction checker is also very useful. Offers free CME resources.
Weaknesses: The app requires numerous back and forth navigation clicks to read through entire articles.
Mobile PDR – (Android, iOS) offers full access to the Physicians Desk Reference similar to what is accessible on the web-based version. However, the logins are not interchangeable. This is a free app to those who are registered healthcare professionals. For those who are used to the old style monographs in the PDR, this app offers a familiar experience.
Strengths: Offers access to full prescribing information.
Weaknesses: Requires numerous back and forth navigation clicks to read through entire monographs.
Mohs Appropriate Use Criteria – (Android, iOS) app was developed by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. It helps users identify the appropriate use of Moh’s micrographic surgery based upon diagnosis and location of the lesion and whether the lesion is primary or recurrent. The advantage of this particular app is to help reduce the overutilization of the relatively expensive Moh’s micrographic surgery technique, while identifying those patients who would benefit from this surgery.
Strengths: Offers easy navigation and Moh’s criteria guidance.
Weaknesses: Inability to print decision tree.
Monthly Prescribing Reference – (Android, iOS, Windows) offers a database of medications with indications, dosing, precautions, drug interactions, adverse reactions and manufacturer information in a format that allows searching by indication or drug name. This mobile app is similar to the Monthly Prescribing Reference. It has the functionality of medical calculations and medical news in addition to clinical charts.
Strengths: Ability to search for therapy by drug name or indication. Single click navigation to access article content.
Weaknesses: No pediatric dosing calculator.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network – (Android, iOS) provides the library of its guidelines for evidence-based and consensus driven management of various tumors. The app allows the user to save their most frequently encountered malignancies for easy access once they login to the application. Contained within the guidelines are the tools for staging of the selected malignancy.
Strengths: Offers robust information on tumor staging and evidence-based management of malignant lesions.
Weaknesses: Text is small and requires printing in order to view information.
PocketEMA – (Android, iOS) app is made for smartphones to access the EMA Dermatology EMR by Modernizing Medicine and is different from the EMA tablet-based EMR application. While this is only useful for practices that use this particular EMR, it has steadily been improved to the point where providers can review each patient’s chart, add chart notes, refill medications via e-scribe, e-prescribe new prescriptions as well as review pathologies and lab reports that have been added to the patient’s chart. This makes taking a call over the evening or weekend an easier chore particularly for patients of other providers in one’s practice.
Strengths: Full access and nearly full functionality on EMA Dermatology EMR.
Weaknesses: No push notifications to provider when messages received.
Visual DX – (Android, iOS) requires a paid subscription and is a useful tool for building a differential diagnosis as well as providing images of variant presentations along with a searchable database of medication-induced skin eruptions. Subscription discounts are offered through various professional societies, as well as group discounts so check around before subscribing to make sure you get the best deal.
Strengths: Aids in the diagnosis of less common presentations and medication induced skin eruptions.
Weaknesses: Expensive subscription model.
Ideally one hopes to find tools such as these to be useful and not a hindrance to clinical practice. Therefore, it is important to also consider the proper context where you should use medical applications. Unless a provider is trying to help a patient answer a particular question, it might come across as rude or demonstrate a poor bedside manner to be typing away on smartphones while interviewing patients or performing an exam. While all providers have been subjected to the use of smartphones and tablets by patients, providers should remember the courtesy works both ways between the patients and clinicians.
A number of dermatology texts are available for download onto smartphones and tablets and this discussion intentionally excluded those resources. While certainly not representative of all the apps for dermatology providers, this article will hopefully provide some useful tools to aid in the day-to-day practice of dermatology.
To contact Mr. Brunner and/or SDPA, please e-mail sdpa@dermpa.org, or to learn more about the SDPA, please visit www.dermpa.org.
Mr. Brunner practices in Stockbridge, GA, with Neville Pereyo, MD, at Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center P.C. He is the executive director for the Georgia Dermatology Physician Assistants and is a Diplomate of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) where he is currently serving as SDPA President.
Disclosure: The author reports no relevant financial relationships.
Many tools are available that providers can use in the daily practice of dermatology to improve patient care and make medical practices run more efficiently. Perhaps, nothing has revolutionized daily life more in the last 10 years than the introduction of smartphones and tablets.
While many have grown accustomed to using these devices in their personal lives, they have increasingly been making their way into professional practice as well; utilization of both electronic medical records (EMR) and medical apps that can be accessed and used on smartphones and tablets have been expanding rapidly. A number of apps are available specifically for dermatology providers that can aid in patient care and improve clinician quality of life. Following is a review of some dermatology apps for smartphones and tablets and their strengths and weaknesses.
DermGrandRounds – (iOS only) is intended as a learning resource for dermatologists, dermatology residents, as well as dermatology physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Members are presented with photos supplied by other participants of dermatologic conditions for which they can input their top 2 differential diagnoses to compete for cash prizes, which are later awarded based upon the participant’s competence. The app also has a participant sourced dermatology text known as Wiki Skin Atlas that is also integrated. For those who do not have an iOS device, there is a web-based version available. For more information, please visit www.dermgrandrounds.com.
Strengths: Good aid for visual identification, memory practice and learning.
Weaknesses: The Wiki Skin Atlas has not yet developed to the point where it is a useful resource. Perhaps with time, more user data will make it a more robust resource.
Dermoscopy 2-Step Algorithm – (Android, iOS) is sponsored by 3Gen, the manufacturers of the DermLite brand of dermoscopes, and is authored by Ashfaq Marghoob, MD, Richard Usatine, MD and Natalie Jaimes, MD. The app presents the 2-step algorithm method for interpretation of lesions using dermsocopic patterns. It is a useful tool for those who have attended a dermoscopy training course as it walks the user through evaluation of individual lesions. The images of the various pigment and vascular patterns used to interpret lesions are particularly helpful. The application offers 50 self-study cases.
Strengths: Excellent practice aid for the user in dermoscopy algorithm practice.
Weaknesses: The algorithm is wordy requiring excessive scrolling, which makes repeated use of the app time-consuming.
Drugs & Bugs – (Android, iOS) is produced by the Monthly Prescribing Reference. This app allows medical professionals to search by infection type: bacterial, viral, fungal, malarial, parasitic-protozoal, scabies and lice. The app provides a list of drugs indicated for the infection type along with drugs that have proven efficacy. The user can select a treatment where the app will provide more information on the chosen drug including dosing, contraindications, warnings, drug interactions, adverse reactions and how the medication is supplied.
Strengths: Offers quick access to appropriate anti-infective agents.
Weaknesses: Not formatted for larger screens, at least in iOS version.
Epocrates – (Android, iOS) offers a searchable database of medications that includes dosing with an integrated pediatric dosing calculator, contraindications, adverse reactions, drug interactions, safety and monitoring, pharmacology, pricing in many cases and photographs of the medication. It has the additional functionality of what the app terms “DocAlert Messages” that contain healthcare provider alerts from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA. The app also offers a drug interaction and pill identification tool. Additionally the app offers medical calculators and tables for reference use. Lastly, it has a link to the companion app, Epocrates Bugs + Drugs.
Strengths: Robust amount of data particularly with pediatric dosing calculator and medication pricing information.
Weaknesses: Distracting pop-up for upgrade to premium services.
Epocrates Bugs + Drugs – (Android, iOS) uses location-based data to provide local bacteria identification frequency and susceptibility data to the user for commonly isolated bacteria in a choice of either urine, blood or skin cultures. It is possible to view the most common isolates by region and the current real-time bacterial susceptibility to allow the user to make an educated selection of antibacterial agents while awaiting individual culture results.
Strengths: Real-time information to geographic-based bacterial frequency and susceptibility.
Weaknesses: Anaerobic organisms are excluded.
GoodRx – (Android, iOS) is available for both prescribers and patients. This app allows users to locate the lowest price based upon location for any medication for self-pay patients. While this is useful for the uninsured, it also is useful for cosmetic prescriptions. Once users identify the pharmacy with the best price, they select it and are provided a GoodRx discount coupon to show at the pharmacy in order to receive the quoted price.
Strengths: Offers patients real-time prices and discounts for both self-pay and cosmetic prescriptions.
Weaknesses: Discount cards cannot be printed and handed to the patient; patients need to access the app on their own and present to the pharmacy.
Medscape – (Android, iOS, Windows) allows the user to access a wide variety of information at no cost, including information on dermatology specific news articles, reference information on medical conditions both in dermatology and the other medical specialties, a searchable collection of medication monographs along with dosing guidelines, a drug interaction checker, continuing medical education (CME) materials and post-tests and information on medical tests and procedures.
Strengths: This is probably the closest thing to a free medical textbook for practitioners. The drug interaction checker is also very useful. Offers free CME resources.
Weaknesses: The app requires numerous back and forth navigation clicks to read through entire articles.
Mobile PDR – (Android, iOS) offers full access to the Physicians Desk Reference similar to what is accessible on the web-based version. However, the logins are not interchangeable. This is a free app to those who are registered healthcare professionals. For those who are used to the old style monographs in the PDR, this app offers a familiar experience.
Strengths: Offers access to full prescribing information.
Weaknesses: Requires numerous back and forth navigation clicks to read through entire monographs.
Mohs Appropriate Use Criteria – (Android, iOS) app was developed by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. It helps users identify the appropriate use of Moh’s micrographic surgery based upon diagnosis and location of the lesion and whether the lesion is primary or recurrent. The advantage of this particular app is to help reduce the overutilization of the relatively expensive Moh’s micrographic surgery technique, while identifying those patients who would benefit from this surgery.
Strengths: Offers easy navigation and Moh’s criteria guidance.
Weaknesses: Inability to print decision tree.
Monthly Prescribing Reference – (Android, iOS, Windows) offers a database of medications with indications, dosing, precautions, drug interactions, adverse reactions and manufacturer information in a format that allows searching by indication or drug name. This mobile app is similar to the Monthly Prescribing Reference. It has the functionality of medical calculations and medical news in addition to clinical charts.
Strengths: Ability to search for therapy by drug name or indication. Single click navigation to access article content.
Weaknesses: No pediatric dosing calculator.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network – (Android, iOS) provides the library of its guidelines for evidence-based and consensus driven management of various tumors. The app allows the user to save their most frequently encountered malignancies for easy access once they login to the application. Contained within the guidelines are the tools for staging of the selected malignancy.
Strengths: Offers robust information on tumor staging and evidence-based management of malignant lesions.
Weaknesses: Text is small and requires printing in order to view information.
PocketEMA – (Android, iOS) app is made for smartphones to access the EMA Dermatology EMR by Modernizing Medicine and is different from the EMA tablet-based EMR application. While this is only useful for practices that use this particular EMR, it has steadily been improved to the point where providers can review each patient’s chart, add chart notes, refill medications via e-scribe, e-prescribe new prescriptions as well as review pathologies and lab reports that have been added to the patient’s chart. This makes taking a call over the evening or weekend an easier chore particularly for patients of other providers in one’s practice.
Strengths: Full access and nearly full functionality on EMA Dermatology EMR.
Weaknesses: No push notifications to provider when messages received.
Visual DX – (Android, iOS) requires a paid subscription and is a useful tool for building a differential diagnosis as well as providing images of variant presentations along with a searchable database of medication-induced skin eruptions. Subscription discounts are offered through various professional societies, as well as group discounts so check around before subscribing to make sure you get the best deal.
Strengths: Aids in the diagnosis of less common presentations and medication induced skin eruptions.
Weaknesses: Expensive subscription model.
Ideally one hopes to find tools such as these to be useful and not a hindrance to clinical practice. Therefore, it is important to also consider the proper context where you should use medical applications. Unless a provider is trying to help a patient answer a particular question, it might come across as rude or demonstrate a poor bedside manner to be typing away on smartphones while interviewing patients or performing an exam. While all providers have been subjected to the use of smartphones and tablets by patients, providers should remember the courtesy works both ways between the patients and clinicians.
A number of dermatology texts are available for download onto smartphones and tablets and this discussion intentionally excluded those resources. While certainly not representative of all the apps for dermatology providers, this article will hopefully provide some useful tools to aid in the day-to-day practice of dermatology.
To contact Mr. Brunner and/or SDPA, please e-mail sdpa@dermpa.org, or to learn more about the SDPA, please visit www.dermpa.org.
Mr. Brunner practices in Stockbridge, GA, with Neville Pereyo, MD, at Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center P.C. He is the executive director for the Georgia Dermatology Physician Assistants and is a Diplomate of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) where he is currently serving as SDPA President.
Disclosure: The author reports no relevant financial relationships.
Many tools are available that providers can use in the daily practice of dermatology to improve patient care and make medical practices run more efficiently. Perhaps, nothing has revolutionized daily life more in the last 10 years than the introduction of smartphones and tablets.
While many have grown accustomed to using these devices in their personal lives, they have increasingly been making their way into professional practice as well; utilization of both electronic medical records (EMR) and medical apps that can be accessed and used on smartphones and tablets have been expanding rapidly. A number of apps are available specifically for dermatology providers that can aid in patient care and improve clinician quality of life. Following is a review of some dermatology apps for smartphones and tablets and their strengths and weaknesses.
DermGrandRounds – (iOS only) is intended as a learning resource for dermatologists, dermatology residents, as well as dermatology physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Members are presented with photos supplied by other participants of dermatologic conditions for which they can input their top 2 differential diagnoses to compete for cash prizes, which are later awarded based upon the participant’s competence. The app also has a participant sourced dermatology text known as Wiki Skin Atlas that is also integrated. For those who do not have an iOS device, there is a web-based version available. For more information, please visit www.dermgrandrounds.com.
Strengths: Good aid for visual identification, memory practice and learning.
Weaknesses: The Wiki Skin Atlas has not yet developed to the point where it is a useful resource. Perhaps with time, more user data will make it a more robust resource.
Dermoscopy 2-Step Algorithm – (Android, iOS) is sponsored by 3Gen, the manufacturers of the DermLite brand of dermoscopes, and is authored by Ashfaq Marghoob, MD, Richard Usatine, MD and Natalie Jaimes, MD. The app presents the 2-step algorithm method for interpretation of lesions using dermsocopic patterns. It is a useful tool for those who have attended a dermoscopy training course as it walks the user through evaluation of individual lesions. The images of the various pigment and vascular patterns used to interpret lesions are particularly helpful. The application offers 50 self-study cases.
Strengths: Excellent practice aid for the user in dermoscopy algorithm practice.
Weaknesses: The algorithm is wordy requiring excessive scrolling, which makes repeated use of the app time-consuming.
Drugs & Bugs – (Android, iOS) is produced by the Monthly Prescribing Reference. This app allows medical professionals to search by infection type: bacterial, viral, fungal, malarial, parasitic-protozoal, scabies and lice. The app provides a list of drugs indicated for the infection type along with drugs that have proven efficacy. The user can select a treatment where the app will provide more information on the chosen drug including dosing, contraindications, warnings, drug interactions, adverse reactions and how the medication is supplied.
Strengths: Offers quick access to appropriate anti-infective agents.
Weaknesses: Not formatted for larger screens, at least in iOS version.
Epocrates – (Android, iOS) offers a searchable database of medications that includes dosing with an integrated pediatric dosing calculator, contraindications, adverse reactions, drug interactions, safety and monitoring, pharmacology, pricing in many cases and photographs of the medication. It has the additional functionality of what the app terms “DocAlert Messages” that contain healthcare provider alerts from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA. The app also offers a drug interaction and pill identification tool. Additionally the app offers medical calculators and tables for reference use. Lastly, it has a link to the companion app, Epocrates Bugs + Drugs.
Strengths: Robust amount of data particularly with pediatric dosing calculator and medication pricing information.
Weaknesses: Distracting pop-up for upgrade to premium services.
Epocrates Bugs + Drugs – (Android, iOS) uses location-based data to provide local bacteria identification frequency and susceptibility data to the user for commonly isolated bacteria in a choice of either urine, blood or skin cultures. It is possible to view the most common isolates by region and the current real-time bacterial susceptibility to allow the user to make an educated selection of antibacterial agents while awaiting individual culture results.
Strengths: Real-time information to geographic-based bacterial frequency and susceptibility.
Weaknesses: Anaerobic organisms are excluded.
GoodRx – (Android, iOS) is available for both prescribers and patients. This app allows users to locate the lowest price based upon location for any medication for self-pay patients. While this is useful for the uninsured, it also is useful for cosmetic prescriptions. Once users identify the pharmacy with the best price, they select it and are provided a GoodRx discount coupon to show at the pharmacy in order to receive the quoted price.
Strengths: Offers patients real-time prices and discounts for both self-pay and cosmetic prescriptions.
Weaknesses: Discount cards cannot be printed and handed to the patient; patients need to access the app on their own and present to the pharmacy.
Medscape – (Android, iOS, Windows) allows the user to access a wide variety of information at no cost, including information on dermatology specific news articles, reference information on medical conditions both in dermatology and the other medical specialties, a searchable collection of medication monographs along with dosing guidelines, a drug interaction checker, continuing medical education (CME) materials and post-tests and information on medical tests and procedures.
Strengths: This is probably the closest thing to a free medical textbook for practitioners. The drug interaction checker is also very useful. Offers free CME resources.
Weaknesses: The app requires numerous back and forth navigation clicks to read through entire articles.
Mobile PDR – (Android, iOS) offers full access to the Physicians Desk Reference similar to what is accessible on the web-based version. However, the logins are not interchangeable. This is a free app to those who are registered healthcare professionals. For those who are used to the old style monographs in the PDR, this app offers a familiar experience.
Strengths: Offers access to full prescribing information.
Weaknesses: Requires numerous back and forth navigation clicks to read through entire monographs.
Mohs Appropriate Use Criteria – (Android, iOS) app was developed by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. It helps users identify the appropriate use of Moh’s micrographic surgery based upon diagnosis and location of the lesion and whether the lesion is primary or recurrent. The advantage of this particular app is to help reduce the overutilization of the relatively expensive Moh’s micrographic surgery technique, while identifying those patients who would benefit from this surgery.
Strengths: Offers easy navigation and Moh’s criteria guidance.
Weaknesses: Inability to print decision tree.
Monthly Prescribing Reference – (Android, iOS, Windows) offers a database of medications with indications, dosing, precautions, drug interactions, adverse reactions and manufacturer information in a format that allows searching by indication or drug name. This mobile app is similar to the Monthly Prescribing Reference. It has the functionality of medical calculations and medical news in addition to clinical charts.
Strengths: Ability to search for therapy by drug name or indication. Single click navigation to access article content.
Weaknesses: No pediatric dosing calculator.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network – (Android, iOS) provides the library of its guidelines for evidence-based and consensus driven management of various tumors. The app allows the user to save their most frequently encountered malignancies for easy access once they login to the application. Contained within the guidelines are the tools for staging of the selected malignancy.
Strengths: Offers robust information on tumor staging and evidence-based management of malignant lesions.
Weaknesses: Text is small and requires printing in order to view information.
PocketEMA – (Android, iOS) app is made for smartphones to access the EMA Dermatology EMR by Modernizing Medicine and is different from the EMA tablet-based EMR application. While this is only useful for practices that use this particular EMR, it has steadily been improved to the point where providers can review each patient’s chart, add chart notes, refill medications via e-scribe, e-prescribe new prescriptions as well as review pathologies and lab reports that have been added to the patient’s chart. This makes taking a call over the evening or weekend an easier chore particularly for patients of other providers in one’s practice.
Strengths: Full access and nearly full functionality on EMA Dermatology EMR.
Weaknesses: No push notifications to provider when messages received.
Visual DX – (Android, iOS) requires a paid subscription and is a useful tool for building a differential diagnosis as well as providing images of variant presentations along with a searchable database of medication-induced skin eruptions. Subscription discounts are offered through various professional societies, as well as group discounts so check around before subscribing to make sure you get the best deal.
Strengths: Aids in the diagnosis of less common presentations and medication induced skin eruptions.
Weaknesses: Expensive subscription model.
Ideally one hopes to find tools such as these to be useful and not a hindrance to clinical practice. Therefore, it is important to also consider the proper context where you should use medical applications. Unless a provider is trying to help a patient answer a particular question, it might come across as rude or demonstrate a poor bedside manner to be typing away on smartphones while interviewing patients or performing an exam. While all providers have been subjected to the use of smartphones and tablets by patients, providers should remember the courtesy works both ways between the patients and clinicians.
A number of dermatology texts are available for download onto smartphones and tablets and this discussion intentionally excluded those resources. While certainly not representative of all the apps for dermatology providers, this article will hopefully provide some useful tools to aid in the day-to-day practice of dermatology.
To contact Mr. Brunner and/or SDPA, please e-mail sdpa@dermpa.org, or to learn more about the SDPA, please visit www.dermpa.org.
Mr. Brunner practices in Stockbridge, GA, with Neville Pereyo, MD, at Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center P.C. He is the executive director for the Georgia Dermatology Physician Assistants and is a Diplomate of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) where he is currently serving as SDPA President.
Disclosure: The author reports no relevant financial relationships.
