By: Islam Elawadly, MD, CCFP

In this technology driven world, there are numerous resources available to assist in your practice, to help teach your patients about their health, and to further your own education.

Below are some of my favorite resources:

Clinical Tools

Cardiovascular

• AspirinGuide – http://www.aspiringuide.com/ (Web/iOS/Android) – A tool to help decide on the use of AS for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
• SPAF Tool – https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/ccpn-spaf-tool/id913300357 (iOS) – A tool to help clinicians optimize stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
• Thrombosis – https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/thrombosis/id728181432 (iOS) – Developed by Thrombosis Canada, this app has numerous guidelines and and medical calculators.
• HEART Pathway – https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/heart-pathway/id1077048429 (iOS) – A clinical decision tool for patients presenting with chest pain. Be cautious, and use your clinical gestalt first and then this score.
• McGill Cardiovascular Risk Profile – https://chiprehab.com/CVD/index.php – Can be used to calculate risk and explain to patients.
• My Health Checkup – http://myhealthcheckup.com/cvd/?lang=en – Calculates cardiovascular age and can be used to help explain to patients.
• BestScienceMedicine – http://chd.bestsciencemedicine.com/calc2.html – A tool to help illustrate the importance of lifestyle changes, statins, and more using the Framingham Risk Score.

Dermatology

• DermNet – https://www.dermnetnz.org/– A high quality resource from New Zealand on a number of dermatology topics with images.
• Dermatologist In Your Pocket – https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/dermatologist-in-your-pocket/id814585727 (iOS, $6.99) – An app to help you come up with and narrow down on a differential for dermatological conditions.

Ophthalmology

• Eye Chart HD – https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/eye-chart-hd-screen-vision/id382019572 (iOS) – A visual acuity screening app with multiple charts.

Palliative Care

• Canadian Virtual Hospice – http://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home.aspx – Information and resources on palliative and end-of-life care.
• Pallium App & Pocketbook – https://www.pallium.ca/mobile-app-pocketbook/ (Web/iOS/Android) – Clinical decision support tools for palliative and end-of-life care.

Obstetrics and Pediatrics

• PediEMS – https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/pediems/id1052414694 (iOS) – An app containing numerous pediatric protocols such as anaphylaxis, asthma, and more. From the OpenEM Foundation.
• Pediatric Assessment Triangle – https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/pdf/pediatricreferencecard-04.pdf – A tool to help form a general impression of a pediatric patient.
• OB Wheel – (iOS/Android) – A gestation calculator. A number of free apps exist on both iOS and Android platforms.
• MenoPro App – https://www.menopause.org/for-professionals/-i-menopro-i-mobile-app (iOS) – Designed by the North American Menopause Society, this app helps clinicians and women make decisions together regarding treatment for menopause.

Medications

• Bugs and Drugs – http://bugsanddrugs.org/ (Web/iOS/Android)
• Epocrates – http://www.epocrates.com/ (iOS/Android) – An app for drug information, including pharmacology, interaction checks, price, and more.
• Spectrum – https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/spectrum-antimicrobials/id921339941 (iOS) – An app showing local antibiotic susceptibility patterns and treatment guidelines.
• MedStopper – https://medstopper.com/ – A tool to help make decisions on stopping medications and how to stop those medications.
• RxTx – https://www.pharmacists.ca/products-services/rxtxmobile/ (Web/iOS/Android) – A resource for prescribing and managing drug therapy at the point of care.
• Lexicomp – https://online.lexi.com/lco/action/login (Web/iOS/Android) – A resource for drug information including dosing, administration, and more.
• RXFiles – https://www.rxfiles.ca/rxfiles/ – A practical resource on topics such as how to adjust the dose of warfarin, choice of inhaler in COPD, encouraging exercise in patients, and more.
• Opioids Dosage Conversion – https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/opioids-dosage-conversion/id382383903 (iOS) – A quick and easy tool to convert doses between different opiates.
• Looking for how to switch Antidepressants or antipsychotics, useful psychiatry resources, this website will do the trick for you https://www.switchrx.com/antidepressants.php

Miscellaneous

• MDCalc – https://www.mdcalc.com/ (Web/iOS/Android) – A must-have app with the ability to calculate scores such as the Wells’ Criteria for DVT, NIH Stroke Scale, CHADS score for atrial fibrillation stroke risk, and more.
• CKD Pathway – http://www.ckdpathway.ca/ – A resource for family doctors to decide when to referral patients with CKD and how to medically manage them.
• Canopy Speak – https://withcanopy.com/speak/ (iOS/Android) – An app that can translate and verbalize questions to assist in communication with patients with limited English.
• CDN STI Guidelines – https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/infectious-diseases/sexual-health-sexually-transmitted-infections/canadian-guidelines/sexually-transmitted-infections.html (Web/iOS/Android) – Guidelines from the Government of Canada on STIs.
• WikEM – https://www.wikem.org/ (Web/iOS/Android) – An emergency medicine wiki, available on multiple platforms.

Patient Resources

General Information

• DocTablet – https://doctablet.com/ – A great resource for patients to learn about their health conditions. Covers numerous topics ranging from diabetes to thyroid disease.
• Patient – https://patient.info/ – A UK based resource containing patient-education on various health topics.
• Sunnybrook ED Discharge – https://sunnybrook.ca/glossary/?g=9&l=%3F&page=tecc-emerg-discharge – Videos providing information for patients for follow up after being discharged from the emergency department.

Lifestyle

• Sask Surgery – http://www.sasksurgery.ca/patient/spine.html – Patient information and back exercises for lower back pain.
• Mayo Clinic Stretches – https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/multimedia/stretching/sls-20076840 – A variety of stretches from the Mayo Clinic for patients to do at home.
• MyFitnessPal – http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ (Web/iOS/Android) – A tool for patients to track their diet, and/or exercise.
• Dieticians of Canada – https://www.dietitians.ca/ – A nutrition resource for patients.

CBT

• Centre for Clinical Interventions – https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/looking-after-yourself – A CBT resource for depression, anxiety, and more from the Government of Western Australia.
• MoodGym – https://moodgym.com.au/ – A CBT resource focused around depression and anxiety.
• Headspace – https://www.headspace.com/ (iOS/Android) – A meditation app.
• PTSD Coach – https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/resources/stay-connected/mobile-app/ptsd-coach-canada (iOS/Android) – An app from the Canadian Government focused around PTSD.
• My Sleepwell – https://mysleepwell.ca/cbti/ – Information on CBTi including books, apps, and more.
• Sleep With Me – https://www.sleepwithmepodcast.com/ – A podcast to help patients fall asleep.

Miscellaneous

• Code Status Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skzAGEf9bv8 – A video to help explain “DNR” and “Goals of Care”.

Continuing Education

• Foundation for Medical Practice Education – https://www.fmpe.org/ – Small group practice sessions with other family physicians.
• Emergency Medicine Cases Podcast – https://emergencymedicinecases.com/ – A free educational podcast for learning about emergency medicine cases.
• CRACKCast Podcast – https://canadiem.org/crackcast/ – Another free education podcast focused around emergency medicine. This podcast is organized into various sections such as the pregnant patient, the paediatric patient, psychiatry, toxicology, and more.
• Primary Care RAP – https://www.hippoed.com/pc/rap/ –  This podcast is more centered around family medicine, but is also a subscription based podcast. They do offer free monthly podcasts though, and have recently covered hot topics such as Vaping Associated Pulmonary Injury.
• Mindful Medical Practictioners – https://www.amazon.ca/Mindful-Medical-Practitioners-Clinicians-Educators/dp/331931064X – A guide on mindfulness for medical professionals.
• DropboxMD – https://www.dropboxmd.com/ – A dropbox for physicians with resources for billing, job seeking, templates, learning and more.

Though technology-based clinical tools can prove to be useful in assisting in practice, above all it is important to ensure that good clinical acumen and judgement is used first.