Comparison

MD on Call vs Physical Exam Essentials

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MD on Call

This app provides quick, practical guidance for physicians, residents, and medical students to manage common on-call issues. It offers concise tips for acute assessment and management, helping users efficiently address patient problems without needing to consult lengthy textbooks.

Highlights
  • Quick assessment and management tips
  • Covers 26 frequent on-call situations
  • Management of common electrolyte abnormalities
  • ECG interpretation with examples
  • Guidance on writing medical orders
  • Searchable by acronyms and keywords
Features
Read full description

"fantastic for a review when rushing to a consult." -- Casey Park MD on Call is already trusted by thousands of physicians, residents and medical students around the world. We’ve been there; At 3 AM, you don’t feel like going through a textbook or a long UpToDate article; you just want to get things done. **************** REVIEWS "If you have ever needed a quick reference to learn on the fly or been stumped by a late night call while cross-covering and you are willing to spend a few dollars to avoid that feeling, you should consider this app." iMedicalApps.com “It has all those handy little things that drug guides and medical references just don’t capture concisely.” “I would pay at least double the cost for this handy little reference.” Dr Jessica Otte, drottematic blog **************** **************** AUDIENCE junior residents, interns and medical students INTRO In medical school, we learn a lot about diseases and the basis for their management. However, we are traditionally less exposed to apparently easy problems like pain, nausea or hypokalemia. Quite often, those issues are brought to the attention of the nursing staff in the evening. At that time, the treating team is away and you're on call, running all over the hospital. MD on Call gives you tips on how to QUICKLY assess and manage (acutely) common problems so you can go on assessing the next patient, or to your room to get some well deserved sleep. -- it is NOT meant to replace a textbook -- FEATURES MD on call is divided into 5 main sections: • Issues • 26 frequent on call situations (including management of some specific conditions) Abdominal Pain* Acute Coronary Syndrome* Agitation / Violence Anaphylaxis Bleeding Bradycardia* Chest Pain Constipation Death (Pronouncing) Decreased LOC Dysuria / UTI* Dyspnea Fever Febrile neutropenia Headache Hypertension Hypotension Insomnia Meningitis Nausea / Vomiting Pain Palliation Pneumonia Seizure Tachycardia Wound Dehiscence Wound Infection • Labs • Common electrolytes abnormalities (including management) Hypo Ca, K, Mg, Na, PO4, glycemia Hyper Ca, K, Na, glycemia • ECG • Normal and abnormal ECG values, now with examples • Misc • Suggestions on how to write orders for admission, "comfort measures only", "on call" notes, OR and procedure notes. Transfusions: general information and common reactions Misc: CSF values, opioid conversion... • Lines and Tubes • How to manage common problems, such as a blocked NG tube. • Search • Search using acronyms or keywords **************** Feedback is more than welcome : visit the website for more details **************** DISCLAIMER This publication (application) is to be used as a guide only. It is intended only for use by licensed medical practitioners and medical students. Every doctor (or prescriber) is responsible for their actions. This guide is not meant to replace clinical judgment. The authors of MD on call make no claims regarding the accuracy of the information contained herein. The authors of this application and its content shall not be liable for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising from the use of this application. It is the responsible of the licensed prescriber to verify the indications, contraindications and dosage of the medication (and actions) they prescribe.

About

Physical Exam Essentials

This app provides a quick overview of patient physical exams, serving as a reference for medical students and professionals. It helps users remember exam techniques, view illustrations, and understand the significance of findings. It's designed for quick reviews of procedures across various medical categories.

Highlights
  • Quick overview of patient physical exams
  • Illustrations of exam maneuvers
  • Clinical Correlates for findings
  • Descriptions of special tests
  • Guide for describing findings
  • 14 different examination categories
Features
Read full description

Learn the physical examination step by step, from the health history to the neurologic exam. Physical Exam Essentials is a study aid for nursing, medical and physician assistant students, and for anyone reviewing the exam before an OSCE or a skills check. Each section walks through what to inspect, palpate, percuss and auscultate, in order, with photographs of the maneuvers. It was written by a physician. PRACTICE FOR YOUR OSCE Every section has an OSCE station: the steps an examiner marks, in order, from the opening (hand hygiene, introduction, consent, chaperone) through the examination to the closing and what you would do to complete it. Practice it in Recall: each step stays hidden; say it out loud, reveal it, and mark whether you had it, against a station timer. At the end you see your score, your time and the steps you missed, then present your findings. Or use Checklist to tick off each step as you examine a partner. You can also practice a section's full text, or one topic at a time. 14 SECTIONS The Health History, The General Survey, Skin and Nails, HEENT and Neck, Thorax and Lungs, Breast and Axillae, Cardiovascular, Peripheral Vascular, Abdominal, Male Genitalia, Anus, Rectum and Prostate, Female Genitalia, Anus and Rectum, Mental Status, Cranial Nerves, and the Neurologic Exam. WHAT'S INSIDE - 61 topics and 68 photographs and diagrams - Clinical Correlates: what a finding can mean, set apart from the steps - Special Tests that go beyond a routine exam - Presentation Tips for describing your findings out loud - Further reading at the end of every section, linking to MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine) and Stanford Medicine 25 - An OSCE station for every section, with a timer and your last score kept - Search across every section, including inside the text - Continue reading where you left off, plus Favorites and Recently Opened - iPhone and iPad, Dark Mode, and text that grows with your text size setting NEW IN THIS VERSION The app has been rebuilt from the ground up. The text is easier to read at any size, the photographs open full screen, and corrections now reach you without waiting for an App Store update. Spot something wrong? Report a problem from the end of any section; we read every report. PRIVACY No account, no ads, no tracking. Your favorites stay on your device. We collect anonymous usage to improve the app; the words you search for are never sent. Details are in the app under More > Privacy. A STUDY AID Physical Exam Essentials is for learning and review. It is not a clinical reference, not medical advice, and not a basis for any decision about a patient. Learn the examination from your instructors and a current textbook, and practice it under supervision.

Screenshots

MD on Call4 screens
Physical Exam Essentials4 screens

Verdict

The call

MD on Call and Physical Exam Essentials both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 78% of MD on Call's written reviews are positive against 44% of Physical Exam Essentials's. MD on Call also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months). Physical Exam Essentials's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $9.99). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MD on Call costs $9.99 and Physical Exam Essentials $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for MD on Call against 5.0 for Physical Exam Essentials. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of MD on Call's written reviews are positive against 44% of Physical Exam Essentials's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MD on Call ships an update every 4 months, Physical Exam Essentials every 10 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MD on Call versus Physical Exam Essentials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMD on CallPhysical Exam Essentials
Price$9.99$2.99 — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews78.1% of reviews — better44.1% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB10 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMessil inc.Hipposoft, LLC

Customer experience

MD on Call

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive78.1%
Neutral10.9%
Negative10.9%

Physical Exam Essentials

All ratings10 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral40.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive44.1%
Neutral21.5%
Negative34.4%

User reviews

MD on Call

From 1 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Handy checklist for on-duty
  • 👍 Useful in ER
  • 👍 Great app design
  • 👍 Packed with useful info
  • 👍 Pragmatic content

Room to improve

  • 👎 Could cover more content
  • 👎 Needs update for iPhone X
  • 👎 Content and references outdated
  • 👎 Needs a refresh
  • 👎 More conditions could be added

Physical Exam Essentials

From 1 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great quick reference
  • 👍 Useful for studying
  • 👍 Good for medical students
  • 👍 Informative content
  • 👍 Easy to navigate

Room to improve

  • 👎 Lacks depth/superficial content
  • 👎 Outdated interface/design
  • 👎 Annoying disclaimer/ads
  • 👎 Not comprehensive enough
  • 👎 Poorly formatted

Bugs and requests

MD on Call

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatible with iPhone X
  • Incorrect advice regarding Metaclopramide
  • Incorrect TDF to morphine conversion data

Requested features

16 requests
  • Cover more content
  • Update for iPhone X compatibility
  • Revise content and references for up-to-date information
  • Add more conditions
  • Include common diseases and treatments
Show 11 more
  • Add an 'edit' function to modify and add vignettes
  • Add more clinical scenarios
  • Add medicine dose information
  • Add drug interaction information
  • Include more information with supporting references
  • More streamlined interface
  • Translate to German
  • Translate to French
  • Add more topics
  • Add more clinical high yields and topics
  • Add more futures needed while oncall

Physical Exam Essentials

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App no longer works after iOS update
  • Doesn't work
  • Download issue
  • Incorrect abdominal quadrants labelling
  • Advertisements on a PAID app
Show 2 more
  • New version includes advertisements
  • Disclaimer popping up constantly

Requested features

18 requests
  • MSK section
  • Ability to change font size
  • Update app overall
  • Add musculoskeletal system
  • Add MSK section with specific tests
Show 13 more
  • Improve interface design
  • Optimize for newer iOS versions
  • Add more detail/explanations
  • Add trial/demo option
  • Add larger font option
  • Add retina artwork
  • Add iPhone 6/6 Plus support
  • Add musculoskeletal exam
  • Add tabs for inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
  • Explain non-normal findings
  • Explain techniques for performing exams
  • Add more pictures
  • Add dark mode option

In-app purchases

None

MD on Call

No in-app purchases

None

Physical Exam Essentials

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MD on Call free?
MD on Call costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Physical Exam Essentials free?
Physical Exam Essentials costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MD on Call or Physical Exam Essentials?
MD on Call and Physical Exam Essentials are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do MD on Call or Physical Exam Essentials have ads?
Neither MD on Call nor Physical Exam Essentials shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MD on Call or Physical Exam Essentials?
MD on Call ships an update every 4 months, and Physical Exam Essentials every 10 months. Most recently, MD on Call was updated on October 24, 2026 and Physical Exam Essentials on October 24, 2026.

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