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In this article, Anush, a final-year medical student, discusses some of the best apps you can use while you’re on the wards.

MDCalc

“Can you do an AMTS on this patient?”
“Can you check Wells’ score the patient in bed X?”

MDCalc let’s you pull out any of the millions of scoring systems used in hospitals up on your phone. Gone are the days of looking confused as you struggle to remember all the components of a score in front of a patient.

The Official BNF App

Do you ever forget the doses of certain medications? Do you ever blank on the important side effects or interactions?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, the official BNF app will definitely help you out!

Much more easier to navigate than the ye olde physical BNF book, you can easily search for the drug you’re looking for. You can even list several drugs if you’re worried that some are interacting!

MicroGuide

Antibiotic stewardship is a hugely important part of medical practice. With the rise in resistant organisms such as MRSA, ensuring we give appropriate antibiotics based on the source of the infection and local sensitivities is key.

This is why antibiotic guidance varies so much between trusts! Luckily for us, we can easily check the local guidance using MicroGuide – download the app, go to “Get Guides” and find the trust you’re placed to get started!

Induction

Ever asked if you could ring microbiology to chase some cultures? Or wish you knew how to bleep the F1 you’re meant to be shadowing but just can’t find.

Induction is one of the most useful tools – it effectively acts as a directory for all of the registered bleeps and phones for the hospital, so you can quickly contact whoever you need. In addition to these, it allows you to ring hospital phones from your own mobile. Very convenient!