Customer Reviews

The Harriet Lane Handbook, CD-ROM PDA Software, 15e

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4 star:		(1)
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This book is so often seen on the pediatric ward that it hardly needs a review. I've been instructing residents for 20 years and can't think of one who hasn't used this book from time to time. Indeed, we joke that you can tell how old a pediatrician is by the color of his (her) Harriet Lane.

I must say that in the past I've had reservations about this book. The drug doses were very often conservative, and the formulary (which is the most frequently used part of it) was rather limited. If you ignore the resuscitation drugs, there are those that would find the Lexmark formulary more useful, especially since it includes much of the information that is in the PDR, such as dosage forms.

The present edition remedies the formulary, happily. Each of the sections is evenly well written, and consise, and the material is useful for the day-to-day work of the pediatric resident. Really, Harriet is indispensable, since it includes all the tables of lab values and growth curves that one uses every day. The present edition is so well written that I can hardly imagine future editions that could be improved in any substantial way. This book hardly needs my endorsement. Nonetheless, I heartily recommend it to any house officer who has a rotation on a pediatric ward.

I first used the Harriet Lane Handbook during my pediatric rotation in my 3rd year of med school in 1981 (?10th edition), & I still use it (16th edition) in my busy pediatric surgical practice. It is especially useful for med students, pediatric residents, other residents (eg, surgical) when rotating through pediatric services, & practicing pediatricians & other pediatric specialists.

The section I use most frequently is the formulary of drug doses. Physicians treating adults generally memorize the one dose of each drug to give, but kids come in many different sizes, so the handbook is indispensible for drug dosing indexed to body weight. My second most used section is the one with all the growth charts, primarily to check for failure-to-thrive. The other section I use a good bit is the one analyzing baby (& older kid) enteral formulas to help guide nutritional therapy.

My only problem with the Handbook is that it has grown in size with each edition. It used to fit conveniently in a lab coat pocket, & it traveled all over the hospital with me. Now it's almost too big & heavy to carry around, so it stays on my desk (& another on my nightstand by the phone at home).

If you can't get a free copy of the Harriet Lane Handbook from some drug rep, go ahead & buy it.

The new edition of Harriet Lane is an excellent buy. Concise, up-to-date and precise, it is an essential ward rounds and on call book for all pediatricians.
However, I would suggest two improvements to the publishers:
Better binding (considering how often the book is used) and a slightly darker print-the current one looks faded already, though the font is very user-friendly.
Dr Sajeev

A "must" for any medical student doing a peds or family practice rotation. Helpful for any residents dealing with kids on their rotations. This book has updated drug information and doses, with more information on the specific drugs and their uses. This is especially helpful for patients with less common disorders that require special meds, such as prilosec & lasix. It also includes dosages for over the counter meds, such as cold medicines. Treatments for newborn sepsis (various ages and categories) are covered, and as usual, techniques for procedures and normal values for tests and labs are included. No pediatric ward or clinic should be without one. I am suspensefully awaiting the newest edition, which will hopefully include the dosages for more of the newer drugs, such as Tamiflu, and especially some of the antipsychotics and antidepressants used, but not necessarily FDA approved, in pediatrics.

Excellent book! It's like carrying Nelson's in your pocket, but MUCH lighter!

This is the essential pediatric reference, particularly for medications. It's easily used, and gives most critical information in a concise format. Highly recommended.

Basic pediatric issues covered for "quick reminders." We, pediatric heme-onc have found extremely useful. There are more recent versions of this manual, however this edition was preferred.

I have previously found this reference quite useful, but my office practice patterns no longer provide me opportunity to benefit from it. Nevertheless, it has served me well and satisfactorily when I needed it in the past.