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Many doctors compliment the stethoscope around their neck with a handheld in their hand. Studies reveal the value—in terms of safety and quality of care—mobile devices provide, with the latest evidence arriving in the form of a survey of emergency room physicians by insurer MedAmerica Mutual.

Here's the story:

According to the survey, taken by 224 physicians throughout 2003/2004, 65 percent of respondents say PDAs helped them avoid a dosing error, 58 percent a dosing frequency error, 25 percent a drug error, 24 percent a therapeutic error, and 18 percent another type of error.

MedAmerica Mutual RRG CEO Gloria H. Everett says, "This survey demonstrates the impact of embracing innovative ways to increase patient safety. We definitely see a benefit by ensuring that the physician can access the drug and clinical information at the patient's bedside."

Doctors avoid errors by using handhelds in a variety of different ways.

66 percent of respondents used their PDA to look up information and perform medical calculations on every shift, with an additional 15 percent using their devices on more than half of their shifts. When asked to describe how the devices was used in their clinical practice, 93 percent said as a drug reference, 56 percent a medical calculator, and 38 percent a medical reference.

MedAmerica Mutual runs a program where it distibuted handhelds with Epocrates Rx Pro drug reference to its insured physicians.