It is astonishing how almost everything is digitalized in the NHS. To keep up with the fast-paced environment and ensure the highest standard of patient care, having the right tools at your fingertips can make a world of difference. The best free medical apps for doctors are usually explored while working in a specific department.
Here is a curated list of top medical apps that can help healthcare professionals survive in their day-to-day roles, from clinical decision-making to personal well-being:
Best Free Medical Apps for Doctors with Links
Below is a table for essential apps that will help you survive the NHS:
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| App Name | Description | Why Use It | Free/Paid | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurx Switch | Bleeps and extensions for different departments and individuals, trust-specific | Cannot survive without finding the right bleeps and extensions, especially on-call. Switchboard takes lot of time. | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| MicroGuide | Tailored antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for NHS trusts. | Ensures safe and effective antibiotic use. | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| MDCalc | Easy to use formulas and algorithms with simple input-output calculators | Needed for different calculations- from CrCl to CHA2DS2-VASc and more | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| Pando | Used for communication, safe for sharing images (of course with consent) | Good for providing images to referrals requiring visualization, also for communications | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| BNF/BNFC | Contains the drug prescriptions that are needed everyday | Helps safely prescribe, make sure to check contraindications, renal and hepatic impairments | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| Locum’s Nest | Helps find bank shifts and sets up pay for the same. | Quick searching for locum shifts becomes easy. | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| Loop | Previously called Allocate, makes tracking your rota easier. | Helps catch up with your rota as well as apply for leaves in some trusts | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| My SBS Pay | MySBSPay gives you your most needed payslips | Needed for payslips, comes even day(s) before pay day | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| BMJ Best Practice | Provides quick and easy access to evidence-based clinical guidelines, diagnostic tools, etc. | Useful for encountering unfamiliar conditions. | Paid |
App Store Google Play Store |
| UpToDate | Offers evidence-based clinical summaries and recommendations on medical topics. | Ideal for quick consultations and detailed information. | Paid |
App Store Google Play Store |
| MS Teams | Communication, collaboration, and virtual meetings. | Facilitates team communication and clinical updates. | Free |
App Store Google Play Store |
| Trello | Project management app for organizing tasks and tracking progress. | Keeps workload structured, especially during on-calls. | Free/Paid |
App Store Google Play Store |
Some notable medical apps for doctors I have summarized further below with screenshots:
1. Accurx Switch
This used to be called as Induction app previously. This is one of the must-have medical apps for doctors, used to find bleeps and extensions of different specialties and people.
If you are the smart one, you will always find the contacts here rather than reaching to switchboard (alas you made it!) and asking them to connect you with that someone special.
This can be used in any trust and the contacts are updated based on your trust once you specify it.
2. MicroGuide
I usually prefer the trust guidelines, but if somethings missing off the charts, this is the place to drop.
This is also trust-specific and all the guidelines are usually updated, providing you with antibiotics guidelines in your hospital.
It is a good app, just been buggy lately. Regardless, must have medical app for doctors if you are working the NHS.
3. MDCalc
I am so in love with this app. It saves me huge amount of time calculating those stupid things.
My top things? Of course- Creatine clearance for drug prescription, eGFR for requesting scans, Well’s score, NIHSS score, CHA2DS2-VASc or HAS-BLED score or even fluid calculations.
This app is fire, with favouriting your most used formulas being the best feature it introduced.
4. Pando
We often use these for sending images for referrals to the departments such as dermatology.
My wife, who is a nurse in the IDT(Integrated Discharge Team) uses it all the time for co-ordinating with her team.
5. BNF/BNFC
The BNF app provides up-to-date information on the selection, prescribing, and administration of medicines in the UK. It is a mandatory app for doctors if working in the UK, unless using the online version.
It includes detailed drug monographs, interactions, and treatment guidelines. It is essential for safe and effective prescribing, especially for junior doctors, pharmacists, and nurses.
The app helps ensure compliance with the latest NHS-approved recommendations.
Have recommendations or feedback on the recommended medical apps list?
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