U.S. Government Testing Bioterror Alert System Using PDAs
On Saturday, PalmInfoCenter.com reported that the U.S. Government is testing a PDA-based bioterror alert system that would allow rapid communication with large numbers of doctors and other health care workers. The system, being implemented by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, will reportedly use ePocrates to deliver these alerts.
ePocrates is a very popular Palm OS-based application that provides drug and procedure reference information. It is primarily used by doctors to refresh their memories on uses of various prescription druge. It includes things like drug monographs, alternative medicines, formularies, and a Doc Alert feature which provides recently updated information on ailments and the drugs needed to treat them.
The AHRQ alert system is expected to piggy back on ePocrates' Doc Alert feature.