South Dakota hospital boosts care with mobile clinical assistants

2008-08-27

Rapid City Regional Hospital has implemented 350 mobile clinical assistants throughout its facility to extend the functionality of its MEDITECH client server information system. The clinical assistants were provided by Austin, Texas-based Motion Computing. The hospital purchased the Motion C5 technology with hopes that the devices would improve workflow processes by streamlining clinical documentation and enabling a better bedside experience. According to leaders at Rapid City Regional, when the hospital began the search to help improve its clinical documentation processes, it wanted a technological solution in each patient room but did not have space for larger technologies like desktop computers. Hospital leadership decided they needed a portable solution to document patient interactions, because clinicians regularly move from floor to floor. Currently, the Motion C5s are most often used by occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers, dietary workers and case managers. "Because the staff uses the device with so many different patients on different floors and rooms, the sealed case for easy cleaning and highly portable design made the C5 the perfect choice," said Dick Latuchie, vice president of information technology and CIO at Regional Health, the parent company of which Rapid City Regional Hospital is a member facility. Latuchie said the C5 is lightweight, easy to disinfect, and easily recognizes handwriting with a pen-like stylus. He said clinicians embraced the C5 because it mirrors the pen and paper process, yet eliminates the need for transcription of data and offers immediate access to patient information throughout the hospital. "The fact that the staff can check on status before entering a patient's room and simply input clinical documentation has made the device invaluable in improving our workflow processes quickly and painlessly," said Rita Haxton, vice president of patient care at Rapid City Regional Hospital. The C5 devices haven't been completely deployed throughout the hospital, Haxton said, yet many clinicians are eager to test them in isolated situations. Usually staff is averse to learning and deploying new technologies, she noted, yet the clinical assistants have quickly become a "must-have" device at the hospital. Joel French, vice president and general manager of the healthcare business group at Motion Computing, said doctors, nurses and ancillary clinicians at Rapid City Regional have reported improved patient service, care and productivity attributable to using the C5 together with their software applications.

机构

Regional Health Partners