*** iOS 6 issue ***
A problem was discovered shortly after iOS 6 was launched that under certain circumstances can result in the patient id not being uploaded to the elogbook.org servers and being lost. This will happen if the patient id consists of 7 characters. This was traced to an undocumented change in the Apple-supplied encryption libraries used by the app to encrypt data. Unfortunately this wasn't spotted during pre-release testing.
Version 2.1.2 has been released to fix this, and iOS 6 users should upgrade to this version before uploading again. Affected users will be contacted individually to notify them of this issue. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience that this has caused.
*** "Subscription needed" message being displayed ***
If you are using Mobile eLogbook version 1.3.1 or earlier you may see this message when trying to upload. In order to get rid of this please upgrade to the latest version of Mobile eLogbook from the App Store. You can do this either on your device or by connecting your device to a computer. The upgrade process should be seamless and you should not lose any data that is still waiting to be uploaded. If for any reason you cannot upgrade (for example your installed version of iOS is too old) please get in touch.
*** Important note about backing up and restoring your iPhone with Mobile eLogbook installed ***
Mobile eLogbook uses the iPhone Keychain to store certain sensitive information, specifically your Mobile eLogbook PIN, your elogbook.org username and password, and the encryption key used to encrypt patient data. This is the Apple-provided mechanism for storing such sensitive information.
Unfortunately it seems that the Keychain is not backed up when you backup your iPhone using iCloud, nor when you do a normal unencrypted backup using iTunes. If you use either mechanism to back up your iPhone/data and then restore it (i.e. to a new iPhone), the app will be restored but the Keychain will not be restored. This means that you can no longer access your data and you will need to delete and reinstall the app before you can use it again.
The correct way to back up your iPhone in order to preserve the Keychain and allow the app and data to be succesfully restored from a backup is to configure iTunes to do an encrypted backup. This can be done by checking the "Encrypt iPhone backup" checkbox in the iPhone Summary screen within iTunes.
How do I start using Mobile eLogbook?
Upon first launch, you will need to set a PIN - this cannot be reset as a deliberate security feature. If lost/forgotten, the app must be deleted and re-installed through iTunes. All data will be lost in this eventuality.
You will then be taken to the settings screen. From here you need to go to the account screen and enter your elogbook.org username (usually your GMC or GDC number) and password (please note a 3G or preferably Wi-Fi connection is required at this stage). The app will then validate your account settings and your name will appear as the user.
The App will then download your account settings, the latest versions of the operation and hospital codes, and also your current favourite operations, hospitals and consultants as defined in your elogbook.org account. Once this is done you are ready to start entering enter data.
What functionality does the free version of Mobile eLogbook give me?
You can enjoy full use of the app for a seven-day trial period. Once this period has ended, the upload function will no longer be available. You will still be able to record details of all your operations in the correct format and with the correct data, ready to be entered in to the elogbook.org website at your leisure. However we strongly advise against the retention of patient identifiable information on any personal device.
I want to be able to upload directly to the elogbook.org system, is this possible and what do I need to do?
In order to use the upload function you need to purchase a subscription. You can do this by pressing the subscribe button on the settings page.
Why does the Mobile eLogbook upload subscription cost £4.99 per year?
The developers of Mobile eLogbook are completely independent and are in no way funded by RCSEd or any other institution. The demand for an app that could upload to the elogbook has been clear for a number of years, but despite this no official version was produced. The developers took the initiative to approach RCSEd, obtain permission to create the app and then invest a significant amount of time in building the app with no financial support, and hence it is not unreasonable to want to charge for the end product like any other commercial enterprise. The decision to make it a reoccurring subscription rather than a one-off charge is to covered the inevitable effort that will be required to update the app as the elogbook evolves, keeping the app useful for subscribers over the course of their training. In addition the price includes VAT and the cut that Apple take. The app is still under active development and there is a new version currently being tested for release in the next few weeks that will have support for Opthalmology and a full iPad version.
How do I renew my subscription?
Once your subscription expires you'll get the option to renew it from within the app.
Are new consultants, operations downloaded automatically?
When new operation or hospital codes are added a new version of the data will be published by the elogbook servers. After a successful upload the app will check for new new, or to check manually you can go to the Settings screen and press "Check for data updates". If you amend your favourite operations or hospitals on elogbook.org, or add a new consultant, you will need to press "Download Favourites" to get the new additions.
Can I use Mobile eLogbook without an elogbook.org account?
No. Uploading to the elogbook.org is the only means of exporting the data from the phone. If you do not have an account and are keeping your own records, please see the “Surgeons Log” app. This is a similar programme with no connection to elogbook.org which permits the export of a csv file for your own records.
Can I view data on the Mobile eLogbook app once uploaded to elogbook.org?
No. Due to data protection concerns, the app serves as a “one-way portal” only. If you wish to change an entry, you will need to login to elogbook.org and edit the details from there.
Can I edit my favourites from the app?
Not currently, although this is under investigation. Any changes will need to be done at elogbook.org and you will then need to go to Settings->Download favourites to update the app.
Does Mobile eLogbook sync with any other Logbook?
No. If you are the user of any other online surgical logbook, we would like to hear from you and we can investigate the possiblity of creating an app for your logbook. Please use the link on the contact page to send us an email.
A procedure isn’t available in the app, what should I do?
If a procedure appears on elogbook.org then it should appear in the app, if not please try the "Check for data updates" function in the Settings. For procedures not listed on elogbook.org, please contact their helpdesk for addition. Once added, the Mobile eLogbook app will download the new code.
A procedure is failing to upload, the activity indicator is spinning but the upload never finishes.
There is a small bug in version 1.0.2 of the app which will prevent a procedure from uploading if either of the free text fields contain an ampersand (&). If you are having trouble uploading ensure that you are not using this character in the free text fields. A fix for this will be released soon.
I'm upgrading my phone, is there anything I should do first?
There are some reported issues of app data not being restored properly after users upgrading to a new iPhone using iCloud. This is under investigation, but in the meantime you should ensure that all operations are uploaded prior to performing the upgrade.