Epocrates Rx Drug Reference App for iPhone and iPod Touch

Epocrates today announced hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals and consumers, including more than 50,000 U.S. physicians, have downloaded its drug and formulary reference application to an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch device in only four months.

The free Epocrates Rx software, designed specifically for the iPhone platform, was available at the launch of the Apple App store in July. The professional drug guide was an immediate hit with physicians, and is continuously ranked as one of the most popular apps in the health and fitness category.

“The early adoption and reception of our iPhone application has been phenomenal,” said Kirk Loevner, chairman and chief executive officer for Epocrates. “Physicians appreciate how we have capitalized on the iPhone’s advanced capabilities with the Epocrates Rx software, particularly the powerful processor, rich graphics and large storage capacity.”

Epocrates provides on-demand drug information for healthcare professionals to reference during a patient consultation. In a clinical scenario, a physician can use the iPhone with Epocrates to look up the correct dosing for a new medication, or enter a patient’s list of drugs to check for potentially harmful interactions. A standout feature for many physicians is the pill identifier tool, which has been central to solving mystery pills patients bring in or cannot recall by name.

“Epocrates is my ‘killer app’ for the iPhone. The drug information is concise, the pill photos are clear and well-rendered, and the clinical messages are always timely,” said Dr. Alan Koenigsberg. “It’s a five-star program I recommend to physicians in all specialties, and to the general public who want reliable current medication information.”

The company will be launching its premium Epocrates Essentials drug, disease and diagnostic guide for iPhone and iPod Touch devices in early 2009. “We are continuing to innovate on the iPhone,” said Loevner. “We will broaden the range of content and tools we provide to healthcare professionals, while providing a rich and compelling user experience.” Price: Free (download).