Elsevier project could advance iPad's role in clinical laboratory IT solutions

The iPad could cement its place among modern clinical laboratory IT solutions thanks to a partnership between scientific publisher Elsevier and UC Irvine School of Medicine.

First-year students at UC Irvine School of Medicine are being given iPads to support their studies.

While they are not conventional clinical laboratory IT solutions, the tablets can be used to access Elsevier's database of interactive content and textbook material.

On logging in, students should see up to four full electronic versions of their course textbooks.

Dr Ralph V Clayman of the educational institution says: "We believe a digitally based curriculum is the future of medical education."

Meanwhile, Randy Charles, managing director of the global clinical reference group at Elsevier, says that the publisher is developing further iPad and iPhone materials.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 6,800 individuals in its global network of 86 offices, publishing over 2,000 books each year and maintaining almost as many periodicals.