We’re delighted to announce our two newest apps: The Merck Manual – Home Edition (App Store link) for consumers and The Merck Manual – Professional Edition (App Store link) for healthcare professionals. These two Merck Manual apps bring to the iPhone a medical reference that has been trusted for over 100 years.
A Bit of History
In 1899, the pharmaceutical company Merck first published a small book titled Merck’s Manual of the Materia Medica. The Merck Manual (as it was later known) became a favorite of those involved in medical care or in need of a medical reference. Albert Schweitzer carried a copy to Africa in 1913 and Admiral Byrd brought a copy to the South Pole in 1929.
By the 1980’s, the book had become the world’s best-selling medical reference and was translated into more than a dozen languages. In 1997, The Merck Manual – Home Edition was published. Written in everyday language, the Home Edition is meant for anyone interested in medical care, but who may not have a medical degree. It has received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.
The Merck Manual iPhone Apps
Agile Partners collaborated with Merck to bring the trusted content of the The Merck Manuals to the iPhone and iPod touch. “For over 100 years, healthcare professionals have relied on The Merck Manual for essential information on diagnosing and treating medical disorders,” said Robert S. Porter, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The Merck Manuals. “These two iPhone applications now provide the trusted information in a form that is even more valuable for consumers and healthcare professionals on the go.”
The Home Edition app for consumers puts the trusted medical reference at the user’s fingertips, whenever and wherever it’s needed … while on the soccer field, a family vacation, a business trip abroad or getting ready to see a physician. An “Emergencies & Injuries” section that is accessible from the home screen was developed expressly for the application.
The Professional Edition app for healthcare professionals addresses thousands of diseases and treatments, features clinical approaches to each category of disorder, and provides specific guidance on patient evaluation. The app includes a ‘Find by Symptom’ section that is accessible from the home screen.
Agile Partners and The Merck Manuals
Agile Partners’ contributions to the The Merck Manuals actually began well before the development of the iPhone applications. In 2005, Agile helped Merck develop The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library which includes the Home Edition and Professional Edition. The online Home Edition won the 2005 Webby Award for Best Health Website and was a finalist in the prestigious Best Practices category. (The 2005 winner in the Best Practices category was a small, up-and-coming company named Google.)
We’re proud of our work on the online and iPhone versions of The Merck Manuals, and hope they continue to serve as valuable references for consumers and healthcare professionals alike. To learn more about both iPhone applications, visit the Merck Manuals page.
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