No internet? No problem.
If you are like me, then you probably aren’t about to spend yet ANOTHER $30 a month for limited 3g service on your Android tablet. Now if you’re REALLY like me, then you probably tether your phone’s internet connection to your tablet and laptop……but let’s not talk about that too loud.
When I bought my wifi-only Acer A500 Android tablet, I didn’t intend on using it in the field. I figured that it wouldn’t do me any good without a constant internet connection, and I figured that using my phone would be much quicker. After using the device for a while I got to realize that it has many uses even when you don’t have an internet connection. Surprisingly enough, it actually has many advantages over the phone.
When you use a tablet, you don’t have the problems with looking unprofessional or like you are “texting”. Which makes “Droid Etiquette” much easier. Also, it’s much easier to read, it responds quicker and it doesn’t offer as many distractions as a phone does.
The biggest advantage that a phone has over a wifi-only tablet is the constant internet connection, but that doesn’t mean that your tablet is useless outside of a wireless network. Even though Android is designed to be used with a constant connection, their are still plenty of apps that utilize local databases and the operating system still has plenty of features that can be usefull to EMS providers in the field. Don’t be tied down by your wifi signal!
Here is my list of 5 handy “offline” uses of your Android tablet in the pre-hospital setting:
- Note Keeping: Working in a fast-paced hospital setting, and in a rural pre-hospital setting, I often find myself jotting down notes about various things like medications I’m not familiar with, diseases, protocols, etc. I have toyed around with several different ways to accomplish this on both Android phones and my tablet, but I always find myself coming back to Evernote. It’s a great tool for jotting down anything and everything, and the best part is having everything automatically synced with “the cloud”. The app works offline just fine and will sync your notes once you have an internet connection.
- Protocol Review: A while back, I wrote an e-book that contained some instructions on “placing your protocols on your EMS-screen“. Well, this method works the same on a tablet, with the advantage of a bigger screen of course. All you need is a file manager and the Adobe Reader app. This is great for looking up information in your protocols without having to flip through pages in a binder or stack of papers.
- Keeping track of supplies: Jason Rice’s “EMS Supply” app works great both online and offline. It’s an easy way to keep track of the supplies you use during your shift so that restocking at the end of the day takes less time. The only time you need a connection is if you choose to e-mail the supply usage list. This of course is not necessary.
- Distracting kids: This is something that most people don’t think about. There are plenty of free kid-friendly games available on the market that can help steal the attention of those little-ones while you complete your assessment, take vitals, or (god forbid) start an IV. Maybe my time working at the Children’s Hospital is rubbing off on me, but it works!
- Referencing medical information: Perhaps this should have been #1 on my list, but I wanted to save the best for last! I know I always rant and rave about Medscape, but I swear that service is a life-saver! Fortunately Medscape works great on tablets and all of the information is available offline. All you need is a free account to get started using it. You can look up emergency medications, home medications, diseases, etc, etc, etc. If your not taking advantage of this, you are missing out.
