Survey: iPhone use soaring in med school

Sixty-nine percent of responding medical students own an iPhone as a mobile device and 64 percent are planning to purchase an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, according to a report released by Epocrates.

The decision support tool developer surveyed 710 medical students in August. Following the iPhone, 14 percent of respondents owned a Blackberry and 11 percent owned an Android device. Forty-two percent stated they plan to purchase a new smart phone device within the year, and 24 percent stated they will purchase an Android device, the report found. In addition, 4 percent indicated they will buy a BlackBerry device.

The survey also revealed that medical students not only believe in the value of EHRs, but expect availability when they practice medicine. Having an EHR is a “very important” factor for 70 percent of medical students in deciding where they will practice medicine, the San Mateo, Calif.-based Epocrates noted.

Respondents believed the benefits to medical practices will be the main driver for EHR implementation (38 percent), followed by improved tools (26 percent) and government incentives (20 percent). This is largely due to early exposure to EHR systems--more than half of respondents said they are satisfied with the level of training their program provided on EHR use, the report stated.

For complete survey results, click here.

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