Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic functions of the PDA for my NP training?

Please see attached powerpoint slides for the essentials about the use of a PDA during your clinical experiences.

What are the basic functions of the Treo?

Please see attached powerpoint slides for the essentials about the use of a Treo during your clinical experiences.

What is the Clinical Log Application?

The purpose of the Clinical Log Application is to promote patient safety and evidence-based practice through using information technology to support the application of evidence to practice at the point of care and to build evidence from practice. Documentation in a handheld electronic clinical log is not intended to replace the SOAP documentation in the patient chart. It does, however, replace the paper-based student log that has historically been used for educational purposes. The software is designed for use during a patient encounter, not for retrospective data entry.

While you are at your clinical site, you enter data on every patient encounter into the custom software application for your specialty. You synchronize the data to a centralized database at the School, receive new applications as updates occur, and receive periodic summary reports of your data. Program directors and some preceptors also receive summary reports of your data via e-mail. Summary data without student or patient identifiers is available on a secure web page so that you can benchmark your data against that of the class as a whole.

The Clinical Log Application was developed by a team from the Columbia University School of Nursing with initial funding from the Health Services Resources Administration and is being refined with funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research (1R01 NR008903)

How is the Clinical Log Application data used?

The data acquired from the Clinical Log Application can be used in three possible ways.

  • Some programs utilize your clinical log data for grading purposes. The program director will review your clinical data to see that you are progressing in your clinical education. Your program director will be able to identify clinical areas of strengths and weaknesses in order to communicate with you and your preceptor. For areas of clinical weaknesses, your preceptor will be encouraged to provide focused opportunities for you to improve.
  • Another possible use of the clinical data is for you to be able to summarily document your clinical experience at the end of your program of study. Some students have been able to use this data to secure employment by demonstrating patient types, procedures, complex decision making, etc.
  • The clinical log data may be used by the school in order to assess strengths and weaknesses of clinical placements or preceptors. This ensures that you receive the appropriate learning experiences in your clinical sites.

Which Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are supported for the Clinical Log Application? Is there a recommendation for a specific PDA?

The following devices are recommended for Purchase for 2007 – 2008 Academic year:

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

  • Palm TX (Palm OS 5.0) (no expansion card needed, the device has good amount of memory) the TX has internet capability but you must purchase a service plan or use the WiFi in the University *

SmartPhones

  • Treo 700P (**Treo 700W (for Windows) is not supported)  - this device has internet capability when in cell phone range but you must purchase a service plan*
  • Treo 755P (**Treo 750W is not supported; there is no Windows-based Treo 755) - this device has internet capability when in cell phone range but you must purchase a service plan*

The following devices are supported for the Clinical Log Application:

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

  • Tungsten E2 (Palm OS 5.0)* (can use expansion card for Epocrates)
  • Tungsten C (Palm OS 4.5)* (can use expansion card for Epocrates)
  • T5 (Palm OS 5.0)* (can use expansion card for Epocrates)
  • Palm TX (Palm OS 5.0) (no expansion card needed, the device has good amount of memory) the TX has internet capability but you must purchase a service plan or use the WiFi in the University *
  • Lifedrive (Palm OS 5.0)* (can use expansion card for Epocrates)

SmartPhones

  • Treo 700P (**Treo 700W (for Windows) is not supported)  - this device has internet capability when in cell phone range but you must purchase a service plan*
  • Treo 755P (**Treo 750W is not supported; there is no Windows-based Treo 755) - this device has internet capability when in cell phone range but you must purchase a service plan*
  • Treo 650P (there is no Windows-based Treo 650)  - this device has internet capability when in cell phone range but you must purchase a service plan*

I’ve never used a PDA. Are there resources to help me learn how to use a PDA?

A good starting point for learning how to use your PDA is the reference material that came with your device. For Palm devices, this information is also on-line at http://www.palm.com/us/support/handhelds.html. Another good source of information for beginners is the AACN PDA tutorial on-line at:

http://www.aacn.org/AACN/conteduc.nsf/vwdoc/MainCEs#Inform. It is a user-friendly audio visual CE program for $10.

Before the installation of the Clinical Log Application, what do I need to do before I bring my PDA to school?

Before you do anything else, install on your home computer the PDA software that came with your device. Charge your PDA battery according to the manufacturer’s suggestions. Then follow the basic instructions that came with the device to do the setup with your home computer.

After the device is charged, make sure you have set the date and time. To do this, from the main screen, touch “Prefs”. On the Preferences screen, touch Date & Time and set your location, date and time.

Do not put a password on your PDA before we install the Clinical Log. And, if you have installed other software, please check to see that at least 5 M of memory remains. To do this, go to the main screen of the PDA, touch the time in the upper left corner, touch delete. You will see a list of the software in your PDA. At the top, free space is noted. If you need more free space, touch the name of an application to highlight it, then touch delete and confirm.

After the Clinical Log Application has been installed, when do I start using it for documentation?

Your program director will let you know when you will begin your clinical rotations. She/he will also tell you when you need to start using the Clinical Log Application to begin documenting your patient encounters.

Is there a user manual to help me with the Clinical Log Application?

There is a Student User Manual for the Clinical Log Application that can be found at: http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/nursing/institutes-centers/informatics/mods-apn/stu-resources/studentsMain.html

It is also available at: http://tinyurl.com/82qnb

What is “synchronization” and how do I do it?

One type of synchronization is when you tell your PDA to talk with your desktop. The resources that came with your PDA should tell you how to ‘hot-synch’ your device to your desktop. This type of synchronization backs-up your PDA information to your desktop. Your clinical encounter data will not be backed up in your home computer!

Another type of synchronization will be done to back-up your Clinical Log Application data. This synchronization is to the school server rather than to your home computer. You may do this ‘synch’ in the School on the 3rd floor, room 327, or remotely from home (after you have downloaded the correct software to your computer—available with the User Manual, see #7 above). This synchronization is done by tapping on the OneBridge connection software installed on your PDA, as described in the Student User Manual.

How often do I have to synchronize?

You can synchronize anytime you want and you should synchronize often. Your program director may have specific times that you must synchronize. It’s a good idea to ask your program director how often he or she requires you to synchronize; however, this should be considered a minimum, as there is no limit to how often you can synchronize.

What happens if my PDA batteries are completely discharged (i.e. dead battery)?

If your PDA batteries completely discharge or go dead, you will lose all of your clinical data! The only data that will be in the school server will be the data captured at your last synchronization. For this reason, it is important to keep your batteries charged and synchronize often.

Are there other uses for the PDA?

PDAs can be used to hold addresses, date books, documents for clinical or class, memos, and notes. There are free and inexpensive software programs for social, travel, and entertainment purposes. If you have wireless, you can register for PubMed for handheld and do a web search anytime. Getting acquainted with the technology now should prepare you for expected improvements in the coming years.

What are other PDA resources to enhance my clinical performance?

Listed below are some of the sites for that individual students may find useful for enhancing their clinical practice. Those in the first table are free or inexpensive databases that you may need to make these programs run. Some of the free software such as Epocrates tracks your use when you update periodically on their website. Caution: There is always a risk that downloaded software can carry spyware with it.

Mobipocket
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/DownLoadReaderStep1.asp

Isilo
http://www.isilo.com/
Trial is free but single use is $19.95.

Adobe Acrobat for PDA
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/acrrmobiledevices.html

Ereader pro
http://www.ereader.com/products/ereader/pro
Cost is $10.00

The Columbia University Medical Library has purchased a license for students to use Micromedex, a drug reference tool, and also has a number of other links. See: http://library.cpmc.columbia.edu/hsl/sg/sgdisplay.cfm?subid=20

Pediatrics and Family Primary Care

Archimedes
http://www.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=227
A variety of formulas—can be useful in primary and acute care sites (BMI calculator will calculate from ages 2 years and up)

Asthma Guidelines
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/as_palm.htm

BMI Calculator
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/bmi_palm.htm
Only for over 48 inches

Growth charts with BP reader
http://www.statcoder.com/growthcharts.htm

Food pyramid
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/foodpyramid.shtml

Journalstogo
http://www.journaltogo.com/
Sign up for pediatrics

Pediatric Hypertension Guidelines
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi_peds/hbppedpda.htm

Pediatric Omnibus
http://palmsource.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&prodID=48295

Riley Kidometer
www.kidometer.com
Cost: $18.00

Shots 2005
http://www.immunizationed.org/anypage.aspx?pagename=shotspalm

Acute care (Family, pediatric, or adult may be interested in some of these applications)

ABG
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/abgdecoder.shtml

ATP III cholesterol guidelines for PDA
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/atpiii/atp3palm.htm

Basics of acid and base balance
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/basicsofacidbasebalance.shtml

Appraising and applying clinical evidence
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/appraisingandapplyingevidence.shtml

Archimedes
http://www.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=227
A variety of formulas—can be useful in primary and acute care sites (BMI calculator will calculate from ages 2 years and up)

Clinical guidelines from US Preventive Task Force (9/2005), American College of Cardiology guidelines for management of adult acute cardiac problems
Follow the links from the website below: http://www.guideline.gov/resources/pda.aspx
Included in the links are the clinical guidelines for management of stable and unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, perioperative cardiac evaluation under the American College of Cardiology

Diabetic Guidelines from ADA
http://www.diabetes.org/for-health-professionals-and-scientists/cpr-pda.jsp

Diagnosaurus
http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/medical/diagnosaurus/index.html

Eponym Reader
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/eponyms.shtml

E medicine and trauma book
http://www.emedicine.com/specials/
Register for emedicine and download book for free

Hypertension guidelines for adults
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/jnc7/jnc7pda.htm

ICU Math
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/icumath.shtml

Journalstogo
http://www.journaltogo.com/
Sign up for emergency medicine/medicine

.911 Emergency information
http://www.skyscape.com/EStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=714
Free

Medical calculator
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/medcalc.shtml

MedRules
http://pbrain.hypermart.net/medrules.html

Pneumonia severity index calculator
http://pda.ahrq.gov/clinic/psi/psi.htm

Pulmonary emboli risk factors
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/pepaths.shtml

Handheld computer
http://www.smokefree.gov/hp-hcsit.html

U. S. Preventive Services Task Force
http://www.acponline.org/annalspdaservices/collections/index.html
Go to U. S. Preventative Service task force on this website and then hit clinical guidelines.

Family, Adult, and Women’s health

American Cancer society screening guidelines
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/americancancersocietyc-tools.shtml

Asthma Guidelines
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/as_palm.htm

ATP III cholesterol guidelines for PDA
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/atpiii/atp3palm.htm

Basics of acid and base balance
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/basicsofacidbasebalance.shtml

Clinical guidelines from US Preventive Task Force (9/2005), American College of Cardiology
http://www.acponline.org/annalspdaservices/collections/index.html

Diagnosaurus
http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/medical/diagnosaurus/index.html

Hypertension guidelines for adults
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/jnc7/jnc7pda.htm

Johns Hopkins antibiotic guide
http://hopkins-abxguide.org/download_center/download_center.cfm

Journalstogo
http://www.journaltogo.com/

Medrules
http://pbrain.hypermart.net/medrules.html

Papmeister for pap information
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/papmeister.shtml

Pneumonia severity index calculator
http://pda.ahrq.gov/clinic/psi/psi.htm

Shots 2005
http://www.immunizationed.org/anypage.aspx?pagename=shotspalm

NNP program (also see pediatrics)

New bilirubin guidelines from AAP
http://www.freewarepalm.com/medical/hyperbili.shtml

Journalstogo
http://www.journaltogo.com/

Is there one place that offers multiple clinical PDA software and at a discounted price?

Skyscape offers many clinical applications that can be downloaded to your PC then installed to your PDA. Just use the following directions:

Who do I contact with other questions?

For other questions you may have, please contact Leanne Currie via email: lmc2007@columbia.edu.