Our services include support and training for a number of mobile technologies, including iPads, iPhones and laptops. Specifically, our iPad/iPhone (iOS) Support program helps equip medical students with software resources available for both clinical and non-clinical use. Our Laptop Support program provides Mac and PC laptop purchasing guidelines and general software support for medical students.
We also assist with wireless access, provide help with email setup and answer general technology questions. Whatever your needs, our service experts will help you find the best solution and help you put it to work.
Drop-in Hours and Contact Information:
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
OCS Help Desk
038 Meiling Hall
Phone: (614) 685-1920
Email: Mobile.Services@osumc.edu
iPad/iPhone Support
The Office of Curriculum and Scholarship Help Desk provides support for Med 1-4 student iPad/iPhone devices in The Ohio State University College of Medicine curriculum.
iOS devices have been incorporated to increase productivity through convenient mobile access to podcasted lectures, clinical resources, medical references, study aids, real-time communications, electronic testing, and scheduling.
Please see the OSUMC IT Mobile Device Matrix for specific instructions to configure your device.
Every iOS device (including your personal iPhone) comes with a one-year AppleCare limited warranty starting on the date of purchase from Apple.
The College of Medicine purchases two-year AppleCare+ for all iPads distributed to students which extends the warranty on your COM-distributed iPad to two years. To receive warranty service, just stop by an Apple store. Warranties are tied to the serial number engraved on the back of the device, so there is generally no need to show proof of purchase.
More information about the warranty for your device as well as information about purchasing an extended warranty can be found on Apple's website.
Micromedex
Micromedex is a collection of databases offering comprehensive information on drugs, alternative medicine therapies, toxicology, and patient care.
Micromedex is available through the Health Sciences Library subscription. This includes a suite of iPad apps. For more information please visit the library's Micromedex page.
UpToDate
UpToDate is the largest clinical community in the world dedicated to synthesizing knowledge for clinicians and patients. The role of UpToDate is to facilitate interaction among members of the health care community and to synthesize and disseminate information in order to help doctors be better doctors.
UpToDate is available through the Health Sciences Library subscription. This includes an UpToDate iPad app. For more information please visit the Library's UpToDate page.
Laptop Support
All medical students are required to have their own personal laptop. First year students must obtain their laptop prior to orientation.
The OSU College of Medicine is committed to preparing our students for the medical, technological, social, and business challenges of the world they will be entering. Two core competencies of the practice of medicine are patient care and practice-based learning and improvement. As such, medical students and physicians must use information technology to support patient care decisions and patient education, and use information technology to manage information, access online medical information, and support their own education. As such, Ohio State medical students must possess and be able to use computer and mobile technology.
The OSU Wexner Medical Center uses a standard platform of Windows and Windows-compatible software and hardware. Many programs and shared files are also compatible with Mac systems though support for these is limited.
**Students will need internet access from off campus. Minimum WiFi speed of 3 MB/s is required, 7 MB/s is recommended for Zoom classes, streaming lectures, etc.
The required minimum laptop requirements for any student entering the College of Medicine are listed below. Additional charges or software fees may apply. Listed here are minimum specifications for PC and Macintosh laptops. Please see below for important software and hardware exclusions and exceptions.
PC
- Hard Drive-80 GB Hard Drive*; 10% free space
- Operating System- 32-bit and 64-bit U.S./English versions of Windows 10; Touchscreens will be disabled by testing software, except on Microsoft Surface Pro; Check this page before updating operating system
- Internet Connection-IEEE 802.11n Wireless Card
- Security-Current anti-virus/anti-malware; Microsoft Security Essentials is free and the only supported antivirus; Avira, Kaspersky not permitted**
- Internet Browser-Internet Explorer 11; Google Chrome
- Microsoft Office-Microsoft Office 2016 or newer; Microsoft Office 365 is free for students (and includes Office 2016)
- Screen Resolution-Screen resolution of 1920 x 1080
- Webcam and microphone required
Mac
- Hard Drive-80 GB Hard Drive*; 10% free space
- Operating System-macOS Catalina (10.15); Check this page before updating operating system
- Internet Connection-Wireless Internet Connection
- Security-Current anti-virus/anti-malware; Sophos Home Antivirus is free and the only supported antivirus; Kaspersky not permitted**
- Internet Browser-Safari 3.2.1 (don't use beta versions); Google Chrome
- Microsoft Office-Microsoft Office 2016 or newer; Microsoft Office 365 is FREE! (and includes Office 2016)
- Screen Resolution-Screen resolution of 1920 x 1080
- Webcam and microphone required
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*Students should always have either an external hard drive or some other method for backing up their data. Data should be backed up at all times
**Microsoft Surface RT, virtual computers (VM), and non-listed operating systems including Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 will not be permitted. PC Avira, PC Kaspersky, and Mac Kaspersky will not be permitted.
***iPads will be used throughout the curriculum, but do not fulfill the laptop requirement. All students MUST have a laptop that meets the requirements listed above.
****Certain devices including but not limited to Google Glass, wrist-watches, and fitness tracking bands will not be permitted in exam rooms.
It may be possible to cover the cost of a damaged or stolen laptop with insurance. Students should check to see if their laptop is covered by a parent’s insurance for possessions if applicable. If is not, then they may want to consider purchasing renters insurance as some policy plans include coverage for laptops for only a few dollars a month. Please make sure to inquire specifically about coverage of the laptop when purchasing the policy. Most insurance companies offer renters insurance.
All computers must comply with the Information Security Policy and Information Security Control Requirements before connecting to OSUnet (any internet provided by OSU or OSUWMC).
- The device must be guarded by an up-to-date and active host-based firewall set to protect it from unauthorized network traffic.
- Supported operating system and application software with current security patches must be installed.
- The computer must have software that helps guard against malicious or undesired software such as viruses, spyware or adware.
- Access to the device must require appropriate authentication controls such as account identifiers and robust passwords.
In addition to these requirements, personal devices are not authorized for the storage of any patient or restricted information that you may have access to as a medical student. Please see the overview of the University Policy on Institutional Data for additional information.
All medical students are required to have a laptop. Mobile Services offers loaner laptops for use by medical students whose computer is temporarily broken. Laptops are available for a three-day loan period with a maximum of one renewal.
Medical students who are interested in borrowing a laptop should bring a photo ID (preferably their OSUWMC ID) to Mobile Services in 038 Meiling Hall. Mobile Services will confirm that registrants are currently enrolled. There may be a short waiting period as eligibility is confirmed.
Each laptop comes with a battery, power supply, carrying bag, and an optional Kensington lock.
Laptops may be purchased from the vendor of the student’s choosing. Students may want to consider the Tech Hub store in the Tuttle Garage building on campus. Dell also provides discounts to OSU students via Dell.com/OSU.
Student cost of attendance DOES NOT include a budget item for the cost of a laptop. If a student chooses to purchase a computer for medical school, their cost of attendance may be increased by a maximum of $1000 or the cost of the computer (whichever is less). This will allow the student to take out additional loan funding to help pay the cost of the computer. Please contact the Student Financial Services office at medfinaid@osumc.edu and request a Computer Appeal form. For the appeal to be approved and for the student to obtain the loan funding, they will need to submit a receipt showing that they (not a family member) purchased the computer and that the computer was purchased not more than 5 months before the start of school.
Mobile Services provides software assistance for personally owned laptops per the Mobile Services Conditions of Service. Mobile Services does not support desktop computers. Users may be directed to the Buckeye Bar, MicroCenter, or to their manufacturer for issues that surpass Mobile Services' scope of operations.
The end user shall be responsible for saving or backing up data contained on any computer that the Mobile Services staff agrees to service. The Mobile Services staff and the College of Medicine shall have no responsibility for such data and shall have no liability arising out of the loss of such data. If Mobile Services staff agrees to attempt to save any end user data such service is provided at no cost to the end user, and the College of Medicine will assume no liability for data loss.
Mobile Services staff does not perform any data recovery services and shall not be held liable by anyone for the loss of data, nor will they be liable for indirect, special incidental, consequential, or other damages, however caused, arising out of the re-imaging process, repair or service of the computer and whether or not the end user has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Useful Links and Software
Cloud collaboration: Approved Resources for cloud collaboration.
Photography policy: Wexner patient photography policy,
Social media policy: Appropriate usage of social media accounts.
- Social Media Accounts for Marketing and Communications Purposes
- Protocols and Standards
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ: OSU and MedCenter accounts.
BuckeyeBox: University cloud storage website.
IHIS Learn: Training mock-up of IHIS patient records system.
NBME: NBME secure exam browser.
Office365: Full suite of Microsoft Office Apps; Word, Office, PowerPoint, Excel, and more.
Intelligent Hub: Intelligent Hub maintains security of iPads and must be configured to be in compliance with security policies.
BuckeyeBox: University cloud storage website.
Duo Mobile (BuckeyePass): 2-factor authentication for accessing BuckeyeMail, BuckeyeBox, and other OSU resources.
Instructions on registering a device, using BuckeyePass to login, and installing the DuoPush app on your device (optional).
Examplify: University exams are administered using this app.
IHIS: Citrix receiver must be configured before attempting to use IHIS. Connection to medical center secure network required.
iTunes U: Install the app from the App Store, then follow the link to request access to lecture recordings.
Lab Archives: Electronic lab notebook.
MyProgress: Evaluations and observational assessment of clinical and laboratory skills.
Office365: Full suite of Microsoft Office Apps; Word, Office, PowerPoint, Excel.
The Ohio State app: App for bus routes, building locations, garage availability, and much more.
Top Hat: In-class survey and polling.