Citation
(2006), "Mobile data in hospital", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 55 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2006.07955eab.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Mobile data in hospital
A study into the effects of mobile technology in acute clinical environments has identified significant time and resource savings. The study, commissioned by George Eliot Hospital and NHS Connecting for Health, ran for six weeks and utilised wireless tablet PCs, deployed to a cross section of nursing and medical staff.
Return on investment analysis showed that savings would enable the pilot to deliver ROI in 15 months. If the technologies were extended to a larger staff pool, ROI would occur in just five months. Patient safety and quality of care were also positively impacted due to the clinicians’ time saving. Highlights included:
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Locating pathology results during a clinic visit: consultant and nurse saved five minutes each per patient.
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Community monitoring of chronic patients: nurses saved 45 minutes daily.
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Recording and filing surgery notes: administrative staff and consultant saved 20 minutes per procedure.
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Retrieving surgery notes at follow-up visit: saved ten minutes per patient visit.
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Charting of inpatients: ward nurse saved ten minutes per shift, medical staff on wards saved 20 minutes per shift.
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Scanning of pre-op patients: nurses saved 45 minutes per shift.
The principal application to utilise the mobile technology was Indigo 4s “Review” system, which provided general and speciality nurses, senior house officers and consultants with immediate access to patients’ pathology results and radiology reports. Review, which is currently implemented at five other large acute hospitals in the North West andWest Midlands Cluster, is usually accessed via desktop PC, see www.indigo4.com