In November 2010, researchers gave Apple iPads to 115 University of Chicago internal medicine residents. The residents were able to access electronic patient records, the hospital's paging system to order tests and medical publications for reference information.

When researchers surveyed the residents in 2011, three out of four said the iPads allowed them to finish tasks faster, gave them more time for direct patient care and helped them participate in educational activities.

The hospital spent about $650 on each iPad, including insurance, protective covers, straps and software. The tablets had access to the hospital's wireless network but were not allowed to store records. They were also password-protected.

Before getting the iPads, the residents reported that increased workloads and limited work hours created work compression and competition between work and their education goals. In particular, they reported spending most of their time updating medical charts, documentation and ordering tests -- at the expense of direct patient care or education.

The research also showed that the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) actually increased time away from a patient. Interns spent more time searching for a computer or working on the computer at the expense of time at the bedside.