I am an emergency medical technician with the Bristol Life Saving Crew in Virginia, and the Johnson City Emergency and Rescue Squad in Tennessee. Over the past six years that I have served as a volunteer with both these agencies I have seen circumstances in which it would have been advantageous to have rapid, reliable access to data (drug identification, overdose information, etc.) on the scene of medical emergencies.
It was under these circumstances that the idea came to me for a portable computer small enough to fit in a pocket or belt pouch yet with enough memory to hold emergency medical reference information. A computer like this could be used by emergency medical technicians and paramedics alike. This was long before I had heard about the HP Palmtop.
Some months later I noticed that a pediatrics resident at James H. Quillen College of Medicine was using an HP Palmtop as a pediatric medicine reference. I asked if I might examine the machine. That was it! This PC had all the features for use in harsh field conditions.
I purchased one and have recently ordered a 10MB Flash memory card for it. I have begun loading information on drug identification, poisoning agents, hazardous materials codes, drug overdose information, emergency medical drug doses and other related data. I am able to carry the Palmtop in a side pouch on my belt and it has proven to be both reliable and durable.
Many emergency medical services professionals purchase $800 portable radios, but for the money I've discovered it's a better bet to have a computer by your side. Since I purchased my Palmtop I've seen Palmtops being used by emergency medicine physicians in the emergency department of local hospitals.
The Palmtop is making a difference in emergency medicine at the community level.
Robert T. Turner, EMT-CT, EMT-IV Johnson City, TN