By Denise Watkins
Many new users or non-Palm converts often ask, "What more can a Palm device do besides serve as an expensive date book?" Well, here's one valuable use I've found: a Palm organizer can become a tool for managing the health and welfare of you and your family.
Between the built-in applications and the plethora of third party applications, you'll find something to help you meet your health and fitness goals. Unfortunately for me, I have yet to find an application that, upon tapping on the appropriate icon, causes a drill sergeant-style personal trainer to pop out and bark commands like "Denise get your butt to the gym NOW!" (There's an interactive program for you!) However, there are plenty of more realistic ways to use your Palm device for health and fitness.
Date Book
There are a couple ways you can use Date Book to maintain your health and fitness. First, Date Book can keep tabs on all upcoming medical appointments for you and your family. When you make the appointment, take advantage of the Note feature in Date Book to jot down any items you wish to discuss with your health care provider. For tax purposes, you may also note the cost of appointments. When you delete items from your Palm device, archive your calendar entries in your Palm Desktop. This way you have a record of past checkups and appointments.
Second, if you're trying to be more disciplined about working out, time management experts site the benefits of making appointments with yourself. Use your Date Book to carve out workout time for yourself by listing it as an event, as you would any other commitment.
Address List
Create a Medical category in your Address List. In this category, input all your medical insurance provider information and account numbers. It's also a good place to keep the listings of all of your family's health care providers.
To Do List
In your To Do List, you should keep reminders of appointments to make and prescriptions to refill. Depending on your personal preferences, you may enter items such as these as untimed events in the Date Book.
Memo Pad
In Memo Pad, you can set up a memo for each of your family members in order to track any health concerns you may have for them. You can also enter immunization records and any medications being taken by family members, what they're for, the dosage, and prescription information. I mark these entries private. Or, you can use a third party application to track the medications you take. The one I use is called TinySheet. It's an inexpensive spreadsheet program, pictured in Figure A.
FIGURE A
TinySheet is an inexpensive spreadsheet program, here shown on the Palm IIIc.
