San Mateo, CA-based Epocrates announced that hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals and consumers, including more than 50,000 US physicians, have downloaded its drug and formulary reference application to an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch device in only four months.
The free Epocrates Rx software, designed specifically for the iPhone platform, was available at the launch of the Apple App store in July.
Kirk Loevner, chairman and CEO for Epocrates, said that the early adoption and reception of the iPhone application has been phenomenal. Loevner added that physicians appreciate how Epocrates has capitalized on the iPhone’s advanced capabilities with the Epocrates Rx software.
Epocrates provides on-demand drug information for healthcare professionals to reference during a patient consultation. In a clinical scenario, a physician can use the iPhone with Epocrates to look up the correct dosing for a new medication, or enter a patient’s list of drugs to check for potentially harmful interactions.
One of the more popular features for physicians is the pill identifier tool, which helps doctors address so-called mystery pills patients bring in or cannot recall by name.
Epocrates officials said that they will continue to develop applications for the Apple platform. Most recently, the company introduced software updates to enhance usability, including the ability to receive automatic updates for its clinical content that ensures physicians always have current information at their fingertips. In addition, the company will be launching its premium Epocrates Essentials drug, disease and diagnostic guide for iPhone and iPod Touch in early 2009.
From the December 01, 2008 Issue of MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
