Medical calculator: MedCalc

OB/GYN News, Oct 15, 2002 by Thomas G. McLeod, Jon O. Ebbert

Overview: MedCalc is an extensive collection of useful medical formulas that are well organized and referenced and frequently updated. Health care providers charged with the care of acutely ill patients will undoubtedly find use for several of the included formulas.

Background: With the emergence of handheld computers in the mid-1990s, physicians gained not only a portable calculator, but also a powerful computing device capable of running highly user-friendly medical applications. Medical calculators were one of the earliest categories of handheld medical software. Though many medical calculator programs are designed for very specific purposes (PregCalc is a common obstetrical calculator), a number of available applications include a wide variety of formulas useful in many medical disciplines.

Description: One such calculator is MedCalc. The current version (4.11) was updated in July of this year and includes 73 distinct formulas. Though perhaps most useful for general internists and medical subspecialists, there's a fairly hefty dose of anesthesiology, pediatric, and nursing tools, and even a few evidence-based medicine formulas. All formulas are listed in alphabetical order on a "main menu" screen. Instead of viewing all 73 formulas, the user may select one of 12 predefined formula categories from a drop-down box in the upper right corner. A "custom" choice within this drop-down allows users to define their own list of favorite or frequently used tools.

Formulas are activated by tap selection from the menu screen. This brings up a formula screen complete with data entry fields, Calculate and Reset buttons, a link back to the main menu, and a Save Result button. Detailed information about the clinical use, the actual formula, units, and pertinent references is easily accessed from each formula screen through an information button in the upper right corner.

The ability to save the result bears special consideration. Each formula screen allows the calculation results to be saved under the patient's name or identifier for later reference. Saved results are cataloged by formula and may be accessed from a patient drop-down box on the main menu screen.

Final Notes: Though you may not find all the formulas you're looking for in this product, the developer remains receptive to submitted ideas, frequently updates the program, and maintains an active online users group (complete with mailing list) easily joined from the MedCalc Web site. Rounding out the list with a small memory footprint and a sweet price (free!), one couldn't ask for much more.

Contact/Download Information:

Title: MedCalc 4.11

Developer: Dr. Mathias Tschopp

Web site: http://medcalc.med.ia.net

Platform: Palm OS

Memory: 232 kilobytes

Cost: Free (available from developer Web site and PalmGear.com)

DR. THOMAS G. McLEOD and DR. JON O. EBBERT are with the division of community internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Their reviews are independent evaluations, and they receive no compensation from and do not consult with the manufacturers of the products evaluated in their column.

Next month: Drug references