By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    An Expert’s Guide To Building and Improving Endurance
    June 30, 2022
    medical assistants
    What Do Medical Assistants Do On a Day to Day Basis?
    April 5, 2022
    superfoods to help with prostate health
    10 Healthy Foods That Can Help Protect Your Prostate
    August 29, 2022
    Latest News
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    pfizer and clinical data transparency
    Pfizer to Expand Clinical Trial Data Access, Takes Step Toward Transparency
    December 6, 2013
    Improving Healthcare Services And Management Through Tech Integration
    June 9, 2020
    obamacare and the uninsured
    Why Hospitals Are Still Gouging the Uninsured
    January 7, 2014
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Has the iPad Replaced the Stethoscope?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Medical Education > Has the iPad Replaced the Stethoscope?
Medical Education

Has the iPad Replaced the Stethoscope?

KatherineMalbon
KatherineMalbon
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

 

 
‘Thirty years ago, we depended on 2,000-page texts such as Robbins Basic Pathology and Gray’s Anatomy. We lugged these around and juggled them as we did our anatomical dissections.’ Dr Micael Collins.http://bit.ly/r6b8Hy

 

 

 
‘Thirty years ago, we depended on 2,000-page texts such as Robbins Basic Pathology and Gray’s Anatomy. We lugged these around and juggled them as we did our anatomical dissections.’ Dr Micael Collins.http://bit.ly/r6b8Hy

 

More Read

Important Tips For Positive Mental Health At Work
Physician-Led Advocacy Group Strives for Diversity among Its Profession
7 Tips to Picking the Best Nursing Program
Promoting Health Literacy to Put Patients First
7 Ways Of Becoming A Good Mental Health Professional
Dr Michael Collins has written a thought provoking article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette today (see above) regarding technology and the next generation of medical students. It really got me thinking about the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ effects of the multitude of on-line resources available to us as Physicians.

 

Having trained in the UK and worked in India for a short while, clinical examination has always been the number one all important aspect of being a great doctor. As a medical student nothing excited me more than finding a patient with positive clinical signs (just like the text books said). I was somewhat dismayed when I came to the USA and had to go through the Licensing exams (USMLE) to find that the clinical examination was with a group of actors who had no ‘real’ clinical signs. The onus of the examination was on communication with the patient. Although equally important, I couldn’t help feeling that this exam could be passed by any socially amiable individual.

 

This morning I arrived early at work to teach the Residents about male genital pathology. During the first 15 minutes we talked about the examination; how to make ourselves feel more comfortable with the examination; how to put the patient at ease; how to feel confident in what we are looking for; how to approach the examination with a system; how to use the examination as a learning situation for the patient (self-testicular examination is important in preventative health care).

 

As I continued to teach about male genital pathology, we kept coming back to ‘clinical examination’ and the importance of the examination in leading to a diagnosis.

 

Today we are so fortunate as Physicians to have instant access to the most current up-to-date information on line. We can access amazing 3D anatomical visuals on-line. We can instantly find out the dose, side effects and interactions of medications. Most physicians have access to the Internet during a consult and many have an iPhone or iPad at hand for instant reference. We no longer depend on our memory.

 

One thing does concern me though. I worry that our clinical skills will be lost among the ‘downloads’ and ‘uploads’. I worry that medical students will be so directed towards accessing information that they will not focus on the clinical examination. Photographs of clinical signs can be found so easily in one quick google search; but there is nothing so thrilling as finding them yourself.

 

I will always believe that the difference between a ‘good’ doctor and a ‘great’ doctor lies in the ability to do a thorough clinical examination and put together the clinical signs to come up with a diagnosis. I then might reach for my iPhone to find out which medication to use….

 

As Physicians and educators we need to ensure that clinical examination skills are not lost and that medical students feel confident in their ability to examine. There should never be an excuse for leaving the stethoscope behind; listening to heart sounds is one thing an iPad can not do.

 


TAGGED:medical education
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

Proposal: Abolish Medical Practice Statutes

December 20, 2012

Preclinical Research: An Important Aspect of Drug Development

February 5, 2014
Image
Medical EducationNewsPublic Health

How Patients Can Receive Financial Assistance For Medication

April 1, 2014

Doctors: It’s No Longer About You

July 11, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?