I went over to Sri Lanka around and five weeks ago and stayed for one month. Using my Sony Clie, I was able to access the The Harriet Lane Handbook, 16th Edition and the 5 Minute Infectious Diseases Consult. My Sony Clie stayed with me at all hospital clinics and refugee camps. In a typical camp setup for displaced persons clinics, believe me, the Clie rested on the table in front of me and was constantly referred to.

One particular case consisted of an 8 week old infant with bilateral pneumonia and respiratory failure and resulted in a full consult, taken from the Clie. I contacted a pediatric intensive care unit we had set up 3 hours away in a larger center via cell phone. We were then able to arrange a medevac through the Canadian military and the infant subsequently did well. Having the reassurance that we had started the correct emergency measures right in a refugee camp was very satisfying to us. That and the continual reference for various skin rashes and some questions on malaria were of great value to us.