Rx Note

Introduction Starting October 9, 2026, Google is limiting free personal Gemini accounts to the lightweight Flash-Lite model, eliminating free access to standard Flash and Pro models. Additionally, Google AI Plus subscribers are losing access to the Gemini Pro model, leaving Pro access reserved exclusively for higher-tier AI Pro and AI Ultra plans. Following the unveiling of the Gemini 4 Argon model, Google is reallocating its heavy compute power toward paying enterprise clients rather than subsidizing casual free users. Finding the Balance Between AI Token Costs and Human Effort Over the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in popularity. Almost every device and appliance now integrates AI features, including fridges and air conditioners. Many companies have pushed employees to leverage AI tokens for maximum productivity. Yet, despite all the hype, human input in daily tasks cannot be completely replaced. Along the way, organizations are discovering a critical rea...

Introduction Medscape is a comprehensive medical resource that provides up-to-date information on drugs, diseases and clinical procedures. Access is completely free and only requires a basic account registration. Launched on 22 May 1995, the platform has expanded to feature breaking medical news and Continuous Medication Education (CME). Mobile Application The Medscape mobile application was released for iOS in 2009, followed by an Android version in 2011. Users can also download its clinical database directly to their devices for reliable offline usage at the point of care. Medscape AI In November 2025, Medscape launched Medscape AI , a generateive AI clinical reference tool available for free to all Medscape members worldwide. The tool integrates Medscape’s proprietary clinical content, peer-reviewed literature, and real-time medical news to deliver timely, specialty-specific insights designed to support evidence-based decision-making. Keep in mind that Medscape’s primary datab...

Introduction With the advancement in technology, a wide variety of medical calculators are now available on App store. Some are integrated into larger medical applications, like Lexidrug , Medscape and Epocrates . Today, I would like to recommend two of my favourite free medical calculators that also work offline. MDCalc Medical Calculator Calculate by QxMD MDCalc Medical Calculator MDCalc Medical Calculator provides access to over 900 easy-to-use clinical tools, including risk scores, algorithms, formulas and dosing calculators. Each tool includes a discussion of the underlying evidence and more information about the formula used, which helps users gain a deeper understanding and appreciation. Download links: iOS Android Calculate by QxMD From the developer of the apps 'Read', 'The ECG Guide' and 'Pedi STAT' comes 'Calculate' , a next-generation medical calculator and decision support tool, freely available to the medical community. There are more th...

Introduction Pharmaceutical care has been defined as medication-related care provided through direct patient contact and intended to improve quality of life. One of the fundamental components will be patient education and counselling. In United States, concerns regarding improper medication use led to mandates requiring pharmacists to provide patient counselling and education (e.g. The Joint Commission), professional association standards of practice (e.g. ASHP) and federal regulations (e.g. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 [OBRA-90] ). Ideally, medication counselling should extend to all patients and their caregivers regardless of the patient care setting. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals may help to individualize counselling. However, barriers do exist , such as excessive workload, lack of financial compensation and patient's attitudes. At Malaysia, due to high patient load at government facilities, we tend to counsel only the essentials. Hopefully, ...

Introduction Out of the blue, my colleague asked me, “Do you know how to generate a QR code ?” Without hesitation, I replied that we could just Google "Free QR code generator" - there are plenty of free tools available online. However, she pointed out that many of those free QR codes either do not last long or have limitations on the number of scans. In fact, she once got caught off guard by this at an event. That immediately piqued my interest. A QR code, much like a barcode, should simply encode the information you provide into a visual pattern - and in theory, it should not expire. A quick search reveals that this is a common issue. Many of the so-called "free" QR code generators actually create dynamic QR codes, which do not directly encode your data. Instead, they encode a URL that redirects to the provider’s server - often used to display advertisements, track scans (including device type, location and timestamp) or restrict access behind paywalls. This pract...

Introduction Both Google Blogger and Google Sites are free and user-friendly website builder platforms offered by Google, but they serve slightly different purposes. Google Sites is primarily designed for creating professional-looking websites that require minimal updates over time. It is ideal for portfolios of work, showcasing products or services, or providing static information about an organization or event. On the other hand, Google Blogger focuses on sharing the writer's thoughts and ideas through frequently updated blog posts. Building Your Site: Structure and Customization Google Sites excels at building organized and professional-looking websites, offering users a wealth of flexible customization options. With drag-and-drop functionality, users can add text boxes, buttons, dividers, images, content blocks, placeholders, YouTube videos, and maps to each webpage. The integration of Google Workspace (e.g., Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms) is almost seamless with Google Si...

Introduction The acronym, MIMS , was derived from the original publication which was called Monthly Index of Medical Specialties . As early as 1968, the first edition of Drug Index for Malaysia & Singapore (DIMS) was published. Core Features Apart from being a source of product leaflet , MIMS also provides some very useful resources. Patient Medicine Information under generic medicine info Useful in medication counselling Latest medical news and special reports Product Highlights and Drug Updates where you can learn some newly registered drugs at Malaysia Pill Identifier Continuing Medical Education Mobile Application In 2013, MIMS recognized the need for convenient access to their information and developed a mobile application companion to MIMS.com. The app was released on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for public download. Resources Some of the very useful clinical tables prepared by MIMS are Antidotes in Opioid Toxicity and Substance Dependence Antidotes in...

Introduction American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information (AHFS DI) from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is a comprehensive source of drug information for health professionals with therapeutic guidelines and off-label uses . It was first published in 1959 as an adaptation from the Hospital Formulary of Selected Drugs by Don E. Francke. It is now available in a digital format called AHFS Clinical Drug Information (CDI) AHFS Clinical Drug Information AHFS CDI provides access to thousands of monographs with links to more than 56,000 sources of supporting evidence, drawn from 89,000 cited references. It also provides in-depth, unbiased coverage of off-label uses and seamlessly incorporated real-time drug and safety updates. Free Access The best part is that you can acess AHFS DI monographs for free at drugs.com .