New Orleans, March 22, 2007 – A record number of cardiologists will be reaching for their mobile devices to access the latest clinical information thanks to the American College of Cardiology (ACC). At this week’s ACC Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans, all association members and users of Cardiosource, the College’s clinical cardiovascular portal, will receive a complimentary subscription to Epocrates®-ACC Essentials for Cardiology, a mobile-based clinical application.
For the second consecutive year, the ACC and Epocrates Inc., a California-based medical software company, are partnering to deliver a comprehensive set of cardiology applications to ACC members. The specialized product combines Epocrates Essentials premium drug, disease and diagnostics guide, with relevant cardiology applications including cardiac calculations and an obesity tool.
By having clinical information readily available at the point of care, cardiologists can make more informed decisions for their patients. In fact, nearly 60 percent of cardiologists report avoiding one or more medical errors per week using Epocrates’ references.
"We found that many of our members were seeking clinical information in and out of the exam room," said Alfred Bove, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.C., Editor in Chief of Cardiosource. "The mobility and customized nature of the Epocrates cardiology edition meets the special needs of our members and has been proven to be a valuable resource by providing immediate and relevant information."
The Epocrates-ACC Essentials for Cardiology mobile application features:
- Epocrates® Essentials – the premium guide includes information on more than 3,300 drugs; over 1,200 diseases and conditions; hundreds of lab test panels; and decision support tools such as drug interaction checking, symptom assessments and treatment recommendations.
- CardioMath® – a suite of 50 commonly used formulas in cardiovascular medicine developed by Dr. Chi-Ming Chow. The application was designed to provide a way to perform day-to-day calculations associated with echocardiography, EKG, epidemiology, exercise stress test, general medicine, hemodynamics and unit conversion (SI and US), both accurately and efficiently. Each area includes standard algorithms as well as supporting information such as typical results and implications.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) and Obesity Application – during the past 20 years, obesity among adults and adolescents has risen significantly in the United States. To support cardiologists with patient diagnosis, education and treatment, this mobile application features a detailed weight management tool. The application, using body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference measurements, provides recommendations, weight loss guidelines, a Basal Energy Expenditure Calculator and other useful information.
- Clinical Messaging Alerts – Epocrates routinely delivers timely medical news and interesting journal abstracts to cardiologists on their mobile device to keep them up to date. Cardiosource is a valuable contributor to the cardiology messaging channel by providing access to relevant headlines such as, "Ten Facts to Remember about Atrial Septal Defects in the Adult" and "Influenza Vaccination as Secondary Prevention for Cardiovascular Disease."
ACC members and Cardiosource users can receive a complimentary subscription to Epocrates-ACC Essentials for Cardiology by visiting ACC Central, booth #2267 at the organization’s Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans, March 24 – 27, 2007.
About the ACC
The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is a 34,000-member nonprofit medical society and bestows the credential Fellow of the American College of Cardiology upon physicians who meet its stringent qualifications. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care.
About Epocrates Inc.
San Mateo, Calif.-based Epocrates is transforming the practice of medicine by developing innovative solutions that support clinical decisions at the point of care. More than 500,000 healthcare professionals, including more than one in four U.S. physicians, actively use Epocrates' mobile and web-based products to improve patient safety and save time. The company’s offerings also enable communication between its users and healthcare organizations such as government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and market research firms. Epocrates has been on the Inc. 500 fastest-growing private companies list for two consecutive years - ranking 176 in 2006. For more information about Epocrates, please visit www.epocrates.com.