nufc4ever 0 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6383035.stm Hospitals pick hi-tech clipboard An electronic clipboard that has the potential to save lives has been unveiled. It is hoped the device - known as a mobile clinical assistant (MCA) - will cut the time doctors and nurses spend on paper work. It could also improve patient safety and speed up treatment times. The portable device lets clinicians access patient records at the bedside, write notes and order essential tests in real-time. One senior doctor described it as one of the "most exciting developments in my 25 years in medicine". Bedside manner The clipboard, which resembles a modified tablet computer, has been developed by chip maker Intel and Motion Computing. Over the past two years the firms have been working with NHS staff to refine what the device can do and include features requested by doctors and nurses. The MCA has been toughened to cope with hospital life and can be disinfected to help keep it free of bugs that could cause infections. Onboard it has a scanner that can read RFID (radio frequency identification) tags that allows nurses to log on to the system securely and quickly. It also has a barcode reader built in so it can read drug labels and patient wristbands and a digital camera to take pictures of wounds. "From a clinician's point of view this is one of the most exciting things to happen in my 25 years in medicine," said Dr Mike Bainbridge, a senior clinical architect for the NHS. He estimated that using the machine could cut mistakes made when administering drugs by up to 70%. Paperwork and errors cost the NHS dear each year. Medication inaccuracies account for 40,000 lives each year while the cost of administration is a whopping 6.4% of the UK's GDP. In tests at the El Camino Hospital in Northern California doctors saw a 30% reduction in the number of medication errors over a four week period, said Pat Perry, vice president of Intel's Digital Health Group. "This is an example of the correct tool for the job and it will make a significant difference to how medicine is practised over the next two to five years," said Dr Bainbridge. Saving lives He hinted that the NHS would be ordering the device - which is selling for £1,199 - in bulk, although he could not give a timeframe or details. "We anticipate that there are 300,000 practitioners online at any one time in the NHS. How many will need one? Between 50 to 100%," he said. There will be limitations on the roll-out of the devices. The MCA needs a wi-fi network in place to be able to talk to a hospital's main database - one of its most vital functions. Dr Bainbridge did not know how many UK hospitals have widespread wi-fi networks. The hi-tech clipboards work best when they can access and update accurate patient records. The NHS is currently involved in a huge project to unify patient records on one database. This records plan has generated controversy among many GPs with many joining privacy advocates to express concerns about confidentiality and which other agencies will have access to them. Frequent crashes The MCA has been on trial at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. Staff nurse Jenny Quilliam was impressed by how it improved her job. "I was quite sceptical at first but after five minutes I found it really easy to use," she said, admitting that it was prone to frequent crashes. But, for her, the benefits outweighed the problems. "It allowed me to look up test results, make referrals and get test results to patients quicker. "If I ordered a blood test it would instantly flash up on the phlebotomist's screen. It meant they weren't waiting on getting it from the ward computer at the end of the ward round," she said. Mike Frayne, director of operations for critical care at Salford Royal, estimated that such a quick turn-around could save up to half a day in terms of test results, as well as improving communication between colleagues. "Quick diagnosis means quicker treatment for patients," said Ms Quilliam. Fancy one Cath? Doesn't say whether it plays mp3s though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15909 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Long as you can use it to post on here, she'll be happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Probably cost £5 to make tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 [/ignorning Martin] Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. It wouldn't make any difference to my job becuase patients usually have had all of their blood tests/scans etc by the time they get to theatre, but it would have saved me a hell of a lot of time as a ward nurse. It's amazing how much time is wasted on paperwork and ordering tests etc when the time could be better used in more direct patient care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Long as you can use it to post on here, she'll be happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 [/ignorning Martin] Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. It wouldn't make any difference to my job becuase patients usually have had all of their blood tests/scans etc by the time they get to theatre, but it would have saved me a hell of a lot of time as a ward nurse. It's amazing how much time is wasted on paperwork and ordering tests etc when the time could be better used in more direct patient care. ....so there is less hope we can kill a few more of the old codgers off..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 [/ignorning Martin] Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. It wouldn't make any difference to my job becuase patients usually have had all of their blood tests/scans etc by the time they get to theatre, but it would have saved me a hell of a lot of time as a ward nurse. It's amazing how much time is wasted on paperwork and ordering tests etc when the time could be better used in more direct patient care. ....so there is less hope we can kill a few more of the old codgers off..? Shipman? That you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus 0 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Wheres the quote from the doctor who described it as Bollocks ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I shall do a straw poll at work tonight when I'm bored Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15909 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 [/ignorning Martin] Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. It wouldn't make any difference to my job becuase patients usually have had all of their blood tests/scans etc by the time they get to theatre, but it would have saved me a hell of a lot of time as a ward nurse. It's amazing how much time is wasted on paperwork and ordering tests etc when the time could be better used in more direct patient care. Didn't mean it nastily m'dear, it sounds like a good idea to me. Good thing I didn't go back and edit it to "and order garlic chicken kebabs" like I was going to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 0 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Can this clipboard thingy guarantee to make the nurses at St Mary's less retarded? I spent 20 minutes waiting for a nurse to check on whether one of her patients was fit enough to travel to us in a wheelchair or did we have to organise a stretcher. 20 fucking minutes. I could've injected the patient and done the first half of her test in that time! Wastes of space they are on the wards around where I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 That doesn't make them retarded, it makes them busy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 0 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 So I wasn't busy? I asked her a simple question over the phone and it took her 20 minutes, and I had the timer on the phone going, to come back and respond. I'm sorry, that's just pitiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mags 1 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 (edited) So I wasn't busy? I asked her a simple question over the phone and it took her 20 minutes, and I had the timer on the phone going, to come back and respond. I'm sorry, that's just pitiful. So next time grab a wheel chair or a gurney and totter yourself on up to the ward. Sometimes radiology just has to wait if there's all hell breaking loose...patients don't stay stable ALL the time you know. And yes we know you have a schedule... believe it or not so do we. Edited February 22, 2007 by Mags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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