When carrying less is carrying more

On a recent visit to a medical school, I watched the usual parade of residents and medical students go by in the typical flock of white coats on rounds. Been there, done that.

But what surprised me was how little they carried (which you’d think I’d be used to). When I was a medical student, my pockets were crammed full of books:

• A pocket pharmacopoeia.

• Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics.

• An antibiotic use pamphlet.

• Handbook of Radiology.

• The House Officer’s Guide.

• On Call Reference.

I think a reason most medical students were so thin (besides living on ramen, tuna, and coffee) is the exercise we’d get wearing a coat that weighed more than we did. Not to mention the clipboard I carried everywhere to frantically scribble notes, reminders, and clinical pearls on.

But those aren’t necessary any more. Now that world-changing invention, the smartphone, has replaced all. In just 5 ounces of metal and glass you have all these books, and more. Questions you don’t know can be Googled (provided the attending doesn’t see you). Notes and reminders can be typed on the fly. Medical students may not get as much exercise on rounds, but on the other hand, they are less likely to suffer back injuries.

I’m not whining about this at all. I’m quite fond of it. Even as an attending, it’s much easier to have all my references in one convenient place. The Physicians’ Desk Reference is likely the biggest and heaviest book in medicine, and it’s nice to be rid of it – not to mention all the trees we’re saving by using the electronic gadgets.

Now I just need to find another way to exercise.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

On a recent visit to a medical school, I watched the usual parade of residents and medical students go by in the typical flock of white coats on rounds. Been there, done that.

But what surprised me was how little they carried (which you’d think I’d be used to). When I was a medical student, my pockets were crammed full of books:

• A pocket pharmacopoeia.

• Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics.

• An antibiotic use pamphlet.

• Handbook of Radiology.

• The House Officer’s Guide.

• On Call Reference.

I think a reason most medical students were so thin (besides living on ramen, tuna, and coffee) is the exercise we’d get wearing a coat that weighed more than we did. Not to mention the clipboard I carried everywhere to frantically scribble notes, reminders, and clinical pearls on.

But those aren’t necessary any more. Now that world-changing invention, the smartphone, has replaced all. In just 5 ounces of metal and glass you have all these books, and more. Questions you don’t know can be Googled (provided the attending doesn’t see you). Notes and reminders can be typed on the fly. Medical students may not get as much exercise on rounds, but on the other hand, they are less likely to suffer back injuries.

I’m not whining about this at all. I’m quite fond of it. Even as an attending, it’s much easier to have all my references in one convenient place. The Physicians’ Desk Reference is likely the biggest and heaviest book in medicine, and it’s nice to be rid of it – not to mention all the trees we’re saving by using the electronic gadgets.

Now I just need to find another way to exercise.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

On a recent visit to a medical school, I watched the usual parade of residents and medical students go by in the typical flock of white coats on rounds. Been there, done that.

But what surprised me was how little they carried (which you’d think I’d be used to). When I was a medical student, my pockets were crammed full of books:

• A pocket pharmacopoeia.

• Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics.

• An antibiotic use pamphlet.

• Handbook of Radiology.

• The House Officer’s Guide.

• On Call Reference.

I think a reason most medical students were so thin (besides living on ramen, tuna, and coffee) is the exercise we’d get wearing a coat that weighed more than we did. Not to mention the clipboard I carried everywhere to frantically scribble notes, reminders, and clinical pearls on.

But those aren’t necessary any more. Now that world-changing invention, the smartphone, has replaced all. In just 5 ounces of metal and glass you have all these books, and more. Questions you don’t know can be Googled (provided the attending doesn’t see you). Notes and reminders can be typed on the fly. Medical students may not get as much exercise on rounds, but on the other hand, they are less likely to suffer back injuries.

I’m not whining about this at all. I’m quite fond of it. Even as an attending, it’s much easier to have all my references in one convenient place. The Physicians’ Desk Reference is likely the biggest and heaviest book in medicine, and it’s nice to be rid of it – not to mention all the trees we’re saving by using the electronic gadgets.

Now I just need to find another way to exercise.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.