Epocrates

What is it?
Within this app is a collection of drug and clinical reference materials. The drug information features are especially useful, allowing you to quickly find drug reference information, interaction checking, pill (and cream) identification, and calculators useful in drug dosing.

How does it work?
The free version of Epocrates opens with 11 reference options displayed as icons on the home screen. The most useful icons are Drugs, InteractionCheck, Pill ID, and Calculators. At the top of the home screen is a search bar.

Drugs are organized as specialty classes. Within each specialty class, drugs are subdivided into disease-specific classes, allowing you to view multiple treatment options for each disease. Individual drug monographs contain all the information typically found in package inserts, including adult and pediatric dosing, warnings and contraindications, safety and monitoring, interactions, and pill pictures. Drug monographs also include information on pricing and insurance formularies.

The InteractionCheck function allows you to enter a large number of medications to a list for the app to check for interactions. A reason for caution (eg, increased liver toxicity) is provided for each drug-drug interaction.

The Pill ID function searches for a patient’s medication based on a description of the imprint, shape, color, and score of the pill.

The Calculators feature contains a limited amount of medical calculators, some that may be useful to dermatologists, including body surface area, creatinine clearance, a drug dosing calculator, and a unit converter.

The other icons include Notifications, Directory of apps, Resource Centers, Essential Points, Contact Manufacturer, and Tables. However, these features are less useful to dermatologists.


How can it help me?
I use Epocrates to quickly find basic drug information such as pediatric dosing, pricing, and basic information on safety and monitoring. The drug alternative function is too basic for a practicing dermatologist. For example, alternatives for Clobex Shampoo (clobetasol propionate shampoo 0.05%) include Cordran Tape (flurandrenolide), which may be of similar strength, but tape rarely is a substitute for shampoo. I use the InteractionCheck whenever I prescribe multiple medications to a patient. I feel more secure knowing that a second resource, in addition to my brain, confirms a lack of important drug-drug interactions.

Epocrates is one of several free drug reference apps that fits my point of care workflow well. Other options exist for physicians who desire a more simple user interface.

How can I get it?
Epocrates can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for your iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or iPad; the Google Play Store; or the product Web site.

What is it?
Within this app is a collection of drug and clinical reference materials. The drug information features are especially useful, allowing you to quickly find drug reference information, interaction checking, pill (and cream) identification, and calculators useful in drug dosing.

How does it work?
The free version of Epocrates opens with 11 reference options displayed as icons on the home screen. The most useful icons are Drugs, InteractionCheck, Pill ID, and Calculators. At the top of the home screen is a search bar.

Drugs are organized as specialty classes. Within each specialty class, drugs are subdivided into disease-specific classes, allowing you to view multiple treatment options for each disease. Individual drug monographs contain all the information typically found in package inserts, including adult and pediatric dosing, warnings and contraindications, safety and monitoring, interactions, and pill pictures. Drug monographs also include information on pricing and insurance formularies.

The InteractionCheck function allows you to enter a large number of medications to a list for the app to check for interactions. A reason for caution (eg, increased liver toxicity) is provided for each drug-drug interaction.

The Pill ID function searches for a patient’s medication based on a description of the imprint, shape, color, and score of the pill.

The Calculators feature contains a limited amount of medical calculators, some that may be useful to dermatologists, including body surface area, creatinine clearance, a drug dosing calculator, and a unit converter.

The other icons include Notifications, Directory of apps, Resource Centers, Essential Points, Contact Manufacturer, and Tables. However, these features are less useful to dermatologists.


How can it help me?
I use Epocrates to quickly find basic drug information such as pediatric dosing, pricing, and basic information on safety and monitoring. The drug alternative function is too basic for a practicing dermatologist. For example, alternatives for Clobex Shampoo (clobetasol propionate shampoo 0.05%) include Cordran Tape (flurandrenolide), which may be of similar strength, but tape rarely is a substitute for shampoo. I use the InteractionCheck whenever I prescribe multiple medications to a patient. I feel more secure knowing that a second resource, in addition to my brain, confirms a lack of important drug-drug interactions.

Epocrates is one of several free drug reference apps that fits my point of care workflow well. Other options exist for physicians who desire a more simple user interface.

How can I get it?
Epocrates can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for your iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or iPad; the Google Play Store; or the product Web site.

What is it?
Within this app is a collection of drug and clinical reference materials. The drug information features are especially useful, allowing you to quickly find drug reference information, interaction checking, pill (and cream) identification, and calculators useful in drug dosing.

How does it work?
The free version of Epocrates opens with 11 reference options displayed as icons on the home screen. The most useful icons are Drugs, InteractionCheck, Pill ID, and Calculators. At the top of the home screen is a search bar.

Drugs are organized as specialty classes. Within each specialty class, drugs are subdivided into disease-specific classes, allowing you to view multiple treatment options for each disease. Individual drug monographs contain all the information typically found in package inserts, including adult and pediatric dosing, warnings and contraindications, safety and monitoring, interactions, and pill pictures. Drug monographs also include information on pricing and insurance formularies.

The InteractionCheck function allows you to enter a large number of medications to a list for the app to check for interactions. A reason for caution (eg, increased liver toxicity) is provided for each drug-drug interaction.

The Pill ID function searches for a patient’s medication based on a description of the imprint, shape, color, and score of the pill.

The Calculators feature contains a limited amount of medical calculators, some that may be useful to dermatologists, including body surface area, creatinine clearance, a drug dosing calculator, and a unit converter.

The other icons include Notifications, Directory of apps, Resource Centers, Essential Points, Contact Manufacturer, and Tables. However, these features are less useful to dermatologists.


How can it help me?
I use Epocrates to quickly find basic drug information such as pediatric dosing, pricing, and basic information on safety and monitoring. The drug alternative function is too basic for a practicing dermatologist. For example, alternatives for Clobex Shampoo (clobetasol propionate shampoo 0.05%) include Cordran Tape (flurandrenolide), which may be of similar strength, but tape rarely is a substitute for shampoo. I use the InteractionCheck whenever I prescribe multiple medications to a patient. I feel more secure knowing that a second resource, in addition to my brain, confirms a lack of important drug-drug interactions.

Epocrates is one of several free drug reference apps that fits my point of care workflow well. Other options exist for physicians who desire a more simple user interface.

How can I get it?
Epocrates can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for your iPhone, iPod Touch, and/or iPad; the Google Play Store; or the product Web site.