Best primary care texts (both APRN & MD FP)?

core0 · Dec 18, 2007

Just wondering ... which texts for primary care (both APRN and MD) and internal medicine do you all think are the best? Which ones do you like the best and use for reference books on the job? Which texts do family practice MDs or internists use (I'm not sure where to find out this information) -- I guess I presume one of these would be an excellent reference book to have in addition to any APRN text. I heard of a two volume internal medicine textbook once that is supposed to be the one everyone uses but I forgot the author and title. I wonder if there is a textbook that is used in family medicine. My program uses this Dunphy, Winlarnd-Brown, Porter, & Thomas "Primary Care: The Art and Science of Advanced Practice Nursing." Is there a PDA program for primary care diagnosing and tx?
Thanks for your input and suggestions!

The current books are pretty good:

http://www.amazon.com/Current-Medical-Diagnosis-Treatment-2008/dp/0071494308/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198020904&sr=8-1

I usually get a new one every few years. The specialty books are a little more uneven. The other one that a lot of people use is the five-minute clinical consult:

http://www.5mcc.com/

There is a PDA version of this also. The concept is pretty good. Bullet points and essential information that you can cover in five-minutes. The PDA Washington manual is what I currently carry (courtesy of a drug rep).

http://www.skyscape.com/estore/store.aspx?category=58&WT.mc_id=55551&WT.srch=1

Finally if you get the full Epocrates there is a disease section that is pretty good:

http://www.epocrates.com/products/deluxe/

It is also linked very well to the most excellent drug guide.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Selke · Dec 19, 2007

Thanks for the great suggestions; I'm keeping track here. I looked on Amazon and the internal medicine book I was thinking about is by Harrison. One reviewer said it's not the best first line book but good for looking up more detailed information to fill in gaps. I looked at a suggested book list by somebody who recommended

Ferri's Clinical Advisor

Essentials of Musculoskeltal Care by American ASsociation of Orthopedic Surgeons

Mulley's Primary Care Medicine: Office Evalution and Tx

and for fun, they have a reprint of the 1899 Merck Manual!

I guess I'm cynical about the quality and depth of APN texts and wonder what MDs and actual practitioners use. I dont' have a PDA yet but will check out your recommendations!

Happy holidays everyone! (you know you're a total dork when you ask Santa for medical textbooks for Xmas!)

core0 · Dec 19, 2007

Thanks for the great suggestions; I'm keeping track here. I looked on Amazon and the internal medicine book I was thinking about is by Harrison. One reviewer said it's not the best first line book but good for looking up more detailed information to fill in gaps. I looked at a suggested book list by somebody who recommended
Ferri's Clinical Advisor
Essentials of Musculoskeltal Care by American ASsociation of Orthopedic Surgeons
Mulley's Primary Care Medicine: Office Evalution and Tx
and for fun, they have a reprint of the 1899 Merck Manual!
I guess I'm cynical about the quality and depth of APN texts and wonder what MDs and actual practitioners use. I dont' have a PDA yet but will check out your recommendations!
Happy holidays everyone! (you know you're a total dork when you ask Santa for medical textbooks for Xmas!)

Harrison's is good in school but not really helpful in practice. It does weigh about 10 lbs and provides good weight when gluing something.

I looked at Ferris but I like 5MCC better. If you are going to spend the money on Harrison's get MDConsult instead.

http://www.mdconsult.com/das/booklist/body/84295349-2?booklist_order=title&format=AT

It doesn't include Harrison's but does include Cecil's (the other IM book). It also includes a ton of specialty texts and full text access to a bunch of journals (which are more important than texts while in practice). The price for a year is about the same as Harrison's. Even better a lot of drug reps have cards for free access.

Outside of specialty books in my specialty (liver transplant) the only books that I have in my office now are Currents and a derm book. Most of the information that I need is through journals. The clinic also has up to date which is also a good source.

David Carpenter, PA-C

BarbaraNP · Dec 28, 2007

i agree with david...the epocrates suite deluxe is my most used resource. my pda is also known as my brain, and i gave her a name. i use essentials of musculoskeltal care frequently (ortho has never been my best subject). my favorite derm book cannot be more highly recommended....color atlas & synopsis of clinical dermatology by thomas b. fitzpatrick. excellent and most useful in the clinical setting. i also prefer ferri.

the bottom line is...the best books are the ones you can actually use in practice. with the exception of my derm book...i want it to fit on my pda. as a bonus...i can add little clinical tips and pearls...that's what really makes it useful.

barbaranp

BChapp3182 · Jan 8, 2008

I purchased a CD on ebay that contains almost every Skyscape medical program they make including 5MCC, Ferri Guide, Harrison's, all those mentioned in the above posts plus maybe 80 other medical programs, drug books, specialist books, everything, and current editions 2004-2007. I only paid I think $15 for all of it. I just did a search on ebay for "medical pda programs" and found a person selling it. It all works just fine, really good deal. Maybe try that to save a few $$.