The drug reference system, ePocrates, has made a major change to its user interface. The startup screen can now be used to perform nearly any activity possible. An example of the new layout is shown below.

One very nice feature is that one is immediately routed to the Rx section (without needing to click the tab) by entering any character. Thus, the new startup screen doesn’t slow you down. The View History is new and allows you to quickly find a medication you have recently looked up. It makes the last eight medications immediately available and a longer list available at a single click. An example is shown below.

Under My Profile, one can select which applications will appear under the “my” tab. It is also worth visiting the ePocrates website (www.epocrates.com), logging in and looking at the additional free MedTools they offer (seventeen are currently available). It is also worth noting that the latest version of ePocrates pro allows some of the data to be stored on a memory card. Other recent changes include black box warnings, new drug and vaccine monographs for new products as shown below.

Overall, there were a lot of improvements made. More information is available at http://www.epocrates.com. Versions are available for PalmOS and PocketPC devices.

Also new on the ATS website this month is the PDA companion to the Hospital Acquired Pneumonia, Ventilator Associated Pneumonia and Healthcare Associated Pneumonia ATS statement published last year in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. This is a free download for ATS members.