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January 2005 - Issue No. 43
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Advocate of the Month Stephen M. Simons, M.D., FACSM
I have used Epocrates software since its inception. Many electronic and print resources are available in the office setting. However, as a sports medicine physician I frequently provide services at locations remote from the office. These events are as varied as a Friday night football game, community road race, wrestling tournament or boxing tournament. My PDA loaded with Epocrates references is an indispensable part of my volunteer service to the community athletic contests. Access to immediate medical and diagnostic information is critical to good patient (athlete) care in potentially urgent situations.
Sports Medicine physicians also accompany athletic teams on "road trips". They usually care for coaches, administrators and other support personnel when traveling with teams. These individuals occasionally suffer medical emergencies or may simply have questions about medications prescribed by hometown physicians or picked up "off the shelf" while out of the country. Since my practice is largely confined to sports medicine, there are many newer medications unfamiliar to me. Epocrates helps me care for these "temporary" patients.
I recently had the privilege to serve the U.S. Olympic Team at the summer games in Athens, Greece. I went to Greece confident that I had portable, up to date, and immediate access to drug information via my PDA loaded with Epocrates Rx® drug guide.
Epocrates was very helpful to me. For example: banned substances are a big concern for athletes. Normally, birth control pills are not listed on the banned substance list.
However Yasmin contains a diuretic that IS on the banned substance list. Even though diuretics are not directly performance-enhancing drugs, they can be used as masking agents and are therefore disallowed. One female athlete declared she was taking Yasmin. Since I never prescribe Yasmin in my practice, I was unaware of the diuretic. A quick look in Epocrates helped explain why a birth control pill was on the Banned Substance List.
Most often, I was asked about drug dosing, e.g. what is the maximum safe dose I can take? If 200 mg was prescribed, is it ok to take 400 mg? Epocrates answered those questions for me and therefore assisted the athletes with their problems and anxieties about their medicines.
Advocate Program
We created the Advocate Program for anyone who is interested in sharing information about Epocrates software with peers.
If you would like to become an Epocrates Advocate, please write to advocates@epocrates.com. Include your name, credentials or titles, city and state, and your sub-specialty (if applicable).
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For 2005, why not make it your New Year's Resolution to get the most out of your mobile/computer and Epocrates software?
In this issue, you'll find FAQs on setting up your hardware and Epocrates application, time-saving tips and tricks that will help you get more from our references, and a beginner's guide to using the Epocrates insurance formulary feature.
Winter Special
Save 20% on all Epocrates products through January 31st, 2005. Upgrade to Epocrates® Essentials all-in-one reference or add another year to your current subscription. Hurry before this special offer melts away!
Buy Now
Received a new mobile device or computer for the holidays?
We have the answers to your frequently asked questions:
Q. How do I transfer my Epocrates application to a new mobile?
OR
Q. How do I sync my mobile to my new computer?
A. To load the Epocrates software onto a new computer or mobile, you simply need to reinstall and download the software by following these instructions:
- From the Epocrates Home page (www.epocrates.com), click on "My Account".
- Log in (if needed).
- Scroll to "Additional Profile Information" and then click on "Epocrates Downloads".
- Follow the remaining on-screen instructions.
We recommend you save the Epocrates installation file to your computer's desktop. Double-clicking this file will reinstall your Epocrates application.
If you require additional information or technical support, please click here.
Q. What clinical software can I load on to my new device?
A. For your core day-to-day clinical information needs, we recommend Epocrates Essentials all-in-one guide to drugs, diseases and diagnostics. Key advantages of using our integrated suite of references include direct linking between related topics, and great value for money! We are confident that once you have used our software you will wonder how you managed without it. However, we will return your subscription fee up to 30 days after your purchase if the product is not serving your needs.
Learn more about Epocrates Essentials.
Q. How do I use my new Epocrates software?
A. Epocrates software is extremely easy to use, but we appreciate that you are very busy and may not have time to explore every feature. To help you get the most possible from our software we have made several learning resources available to you.
Learn More
Didn't receive what you wanted for the holidays?
If you didn't get what you wished for, don't worry - we have great hardware/software bundle deals for you! Save up to $165 on a palmOne Tungsten mobile or up to $150 on an HP iPAQ Pocket PC mobile bundled with Epocrates Essentials all-in-one reference. These bundles are available for a limited time from pdaMD.com.
Learn More | Buy Now
Clinical Updates
The Epocrates medical editors added 62 new drugs and made 195 revisions to the Epocrates databases in December.
View update details
Get more out of your Epocrates application
We have tools and resources that will help you use our software like an expert in no time!
View the Epocrates Essentials Flash demo - NEW!
The Epocrates Essentials demo introduces you to Epocrates and then allows you to explore our core suite of references. By clicking tabs or buttons on the demo screen, you can learn more about the Epocrates Rx Pro drug database, MultiCheck drug interaction feature, formulary feature, Epocrates Dx disease reference, Epocrates Lab diagnostic reference, Epocrates ID infectious disease reference, Clinical Tables and MedTools.
View Demo
Take a quick tutorial on your mobile device
The Epocrates Essentials Tutorial provides an overview of features for all of the Epocrates mobile references - Epocrates Rx free drug reference, Epocrates Rx Pro premium drug reference, Epocrates Dx disease reference and Epocrates Lab diagnostic reference. It's a great way to get started with our software or learn more about features you don't currently have.
Simply download the tutorial on to your mobile, access the tutorial from the black bag tab, and view the sections of your choice.
The Epocrates Essentials Tutorial is available for Palm OS devices. It's free, only requires 120 KB of available memory, and you can delete it when you no longer need it.
Download tutorial
Get tips from Epocrates Product Feature Guides
We have feature guides for all of our mobile and web-based products. For example, learn how to AutoUpdate your Epocrates references and to customize your software to suit you.
View list of feature guides
Download the Epocrates Formulary Tips Guide
Learn how to download and use the Epocrates formulary feature - your patients will thank you!
How does the Epocrates formulary feature work?
It's as easy as 1-2-3.
Reduce pharmacy callbacks and help your patients save money on their prescriptions.
Epocrates currently hosts formulary information for health plans and hospitals representing more than 95 million members. Our clients include Cigna, Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, 31 local Blues plans, State Medicaid programs, VISN 9, Henry Ford Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, and many more commercial and government organizations.
Learn how to download and use the Epocrates formulary feature with our Formulary Tips Guide.
"As a practicing pediatrician in a large suburban group practice, Epocrates software has proven invaluable in assisting me in my work. The formularies of all major players in my region are available in the Epocrates Rx database. I regularly tap into the formulary features including coverage, co-pay levels and requirements for prior authorization, and check for therapeutic and generic alternatives. This saves my patients time, and substantially reduces my administrative hassles with both insurers and pharmacies. In addition, my patients enjoy the overall "high-tech" feel to their visit."
Philip Goldstein, MD
Pediatric Medical Associates
Rydal and Norristown, PA
Already using Epocrates formularies?
We add new formularies to Epocrates every week. It's easy to add or remove formularies. Click here and log in to edit your formulary selection.
Note: 2005 Drug List changes are now available for most health plans - AutoUpdate to receive the latest formulary information for your selected formularies.
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Q. I can't find the "Alt Meds" in my Epocrates application any more. Where did they go?
A. Earlier this year, we merged the alternative medicines (herbals) into the main Rx drug list in Epocrates Rx Pro™, in response to feedback from customers that having all the medications together would save them time.
If
you have Epocrates Rx Pro premium drug reference or Epocrates Essentials all-in-one
reference, you have the option of showing or hiding the alt meds.
To show/hide alt meds:
- Tap on the Rx tab and be sure that you are viewing the alphabetical list "By Drug".
- Tap on the "e" logo in the top left of your screen to view the "App" menu (Palm users)/tap "App" on the bottom navigation bar (Pocket PC users).
- Select "Hide Alt Meds" if you do not wish to see them in the drug list or "Show Alt Meds" if you do wish to see them in the drug list.
- Please
note that if you choose to "Hide Alt Meds" you will still be able to
access Alternative Medicines when you look up medication information "By
Class", and you can still select alt meds in the MultiCheck drug interaction
feature.
If you still have an "Alt Meds" tab next to the Rx tab in your Epocrates application, you do not have the latest version of our software. To obtain the latest version, simply go to www.epocrates.com, log in to your account, select "Epocrates downloads" and follow the upgrade instructions.
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Epocrates
Inc., 1100 Park Place Suite 300, San Mateo, CA. 94403 | www.epocrates.com
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