iPodTouch?

[mbg]

I want some kind of ipod type device. I am a nurse and want it for reviewing lab results, correct medication doses, and maybe medical dictionary. I don't think I want a smartphone because I work in a hospital- we are not allowed to carry a phone, and hospitals are very 'dirty', so I don't want to be using a phone to my face after I just handled pee/poop/blood...yuck.
What other options do I have? It must be small enough to go in my pocket. Thanks

 

[bkribbs]

I want some kind of ipod type device. I am a nurse and want it for reviewing lab results, correct medication doses, and maybe medical dictionary. I don't think I want a smartphone because I work in a hospital- we are not allowed to carry a phone, and hospitals are very 'dirty', so I don't want to be using a phone to my face after I just handled pee/poop/blood...yuck.
What other options do I have? It must be small enough to go in my pocket. Thanks

Well if you shouldn't have a phone, an iPod wouldn't be much better. Just in terms of breaking rules or anything. Other then that, an iPod touch sounds suited pretty well for your needs.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

There are already existing options designed with this exact scenario in mind. I can't imagine a hospital would want to constantly replace the iPod devices that get lost/stolen on a regular basis either, which they definitely would. As an aside, I'm not sure that an iPod would comply with HIPAA, since you can't use all of the security like encryption, the ability to audit what the device has accessed, secure login, etc. They'd most likely use a PDA that was specifically designed for healthcare, or a tablet PC with a Windows OS that can be connected to a domain, and its policies. FWIW, I carry a hospital issued phone every day at work. Obey standard precautions and you won't have any issues with germs, since you would have washed your hands after any patient/bodily fluid/specimen contact.

 

[bkribbs]

Oh, he's right. You could use it if it didn't have confidential stuff to look at. So it would be good for epocrates or a dictionary, but not confidential info.

 

[apj101]

There are already existing options designed with this exact scenario in mind. I can't imagine a hospital would want to constantly replace the iPod devices that get lost/stolen on a regular basis either, which they definitely would. As an aside, I'm not sure that an iPod would comply with HIPAA, since you can't use all of the security like encryption, the ability to audit what the device has accessed, secure login, etc. They'd most likely use a PDA that was specifically designed for healthcare, or a tablet PC with a Windows OS that can be connected to a domain, and its policies. FWIW, I carry a hospital issued phone every day at work. Obey standard precautions and you won't have any issues with germs, since you would have washed your hands after any patient/bodily fluid/specimen contact.

Sorry to spam, but that is an excellent answer! Best answer of the day!