With the wide selection of mobile medical applications available to health care providers, for many practicing dentists and dental students in training there is an increase need to be able to locate vetted information pertaining to the management of the medically complex patient. Dentists now treat with more regularity persons with special needs whose oral care is challenged by their overall physical fitness. The Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences licenses several resources, offers a suggested Mobile Technology guide, but there are also many free applications that a dentist can refer to when determining the treatment and management of their patient. Below is a quick list that I recommend to students, faculty and staff at the UAB School of Dentistry.
FirstConsult is designed for the health care student and is a clinical decision support tool that provides quick answers. For those who have more experience treating the medically challenged patient, consider DynaMed Mobile as your first choice. However, both resources complement each other and I have both apps on my smart phone.
The American Dental Association’s Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry offers a web optimized version of its website containing clinical recommendations that include a patient information section. If you want to wow your colleagues, this handy site will link you to authoritative guidelines to use in practice.
I am a huge fan of Visual Dx, a medical images database. It is easy for students to use because the search function does not require knowing a diagnosis name. Antidotal feedback from students who have incorporated this medical application in to their training report fewer mistakes in visually identifying an oral lesion.
Last, two good drug apps are Epocrates and MicroMedex Drug Information. I personally think Epocrates is easier for the student in training to use. And, don’t forget to add LactMed which provides vetted information on drug effects on lactation and breastfed infants.
Please comment on other favorites that you use in practice below!
- Liz Lorbeer
Librarian to the UAB School of Dentistry
