Study Reveals Wireless Application Trends in Healthcare
In their new report titled Mobile Computing: Wireless Applications in Healthcare Settings, Healthcare Informatics and Vendome Group highlight trends in wireless use in hospitals. The survey respondents represented a variety of healthcare settings.
According to the survey, a full 96% of respondents have a network at their facility. Most facilities (72%) have both hard-wired and wireless. The conclusion is that healthcare organizations are trending to implementing wireless networking and supporting mobile applications, particularly at the point of care. However, only 5% reported complete wireless enablement at their facilities. By contrast, 23% report no wireless network.
Healthcare Informatics and Vendome conclude from these findings that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are in the process of enabling and extending access to data through wireless technologies, and that they are employing a phased in strategy for wireless adoption.
Another key finding is one we’ve heard expressed from the hospital community. Users ultimately want a single handheld device capable of managing both data and voice equally well.
The wireless network is a high priority for hospitals. Overall, it has been the third highest priority for 2007 behind electronic health records and privacy and security. You can purchase the report here.
Lessons from Joint ASHES/NAHTM Show
This fall marked ASHES’ 22nd Annual Conference and Healthcare Marketplace. Co-located with the National Association of Healthcare Transport Management (NAHTM), there were more attendees than at any previous ASHES show!
We talked to a lot of hospital administrators during and after the show. Many report similar challenges with their current transport process. Here are the most common observations we heard:
Chaos. Many transport and IT leaders shared that they either don’t have a functional transport system, or that the system they have doesn’t handle the necessary functions involved in patient transport for their hospital. “Chaos” is how some described it. Phone and pager based systems contribute to this situation.
No Full Picture. Many leaders said they don’t have a full picture of their transport departments, at any given time or overall. Since their information isn’t real time, or there are gaps in automation, administrators and transporters don’t know patient status, wait time, transporter location or other critical data. They also lack meaningful decision support information such as peak times, transporter productivity, and overall impact on the hospital.
Cost. Many small and mid-sized hospitals have reported that solutions they have evaluated are cost prohibitive and include unnecessary functionality. These solutions are not sized for their hospitals.
It's always worthwhile when our reps get a chance to talk with prospects about their patient flow challenges. If you can relate to the issues shared above, contact sales@mdatransquest.com and learn how to put these problems behind you.
Become a BedQuest Best Practice Hospital!
Know anything about patient throughput/management? We’re looking for a few good hospitals whose leaders want to improve patient throughput and bed turnover. In response to hospital demand, MDA Technologies is developing MDA BedQuest—the new bed tracking product that will streamline turnover and throughput.
But we need your help. We're now selecting steering committee participants to help ensure the product reflects the challenges and needs of hospitals like yours. Requirements include a willingness to confidentially discuss your bed turnover challenges and a minimum commitment of time. No travel is required. If you’d like to take part, contact Paula Maxey.
MDA TransQuest Means Ease of Use for Transport Staff
Is your patient transport system fragmented? Do you have disparate pockets of information? Are you concerned that a more sophisticated system may be difficult for your staff to learn to use? MDA TransQuest was created to eliminate challenges like these.
MDA TransQuest was designed with the user in mind. Transporters are very quickly up and running with the PDA-based system. Here’s how it works from their perspective:
Transport requests are transmitted to a PDA, individually carried by each transporter logged into MDA TransQuest. The product features color-coded screen views. Each transporter’s PDA shows information pertaining only to the task currently assigned. This data includes patient name, date of birth, pick-up and drop off locations, points of contact and any special instructions.
Transporters can report additional resource needs, log delays and cancel requests. Delays can be logged and attributed to specific resource needs. Requests are automatically prioritized, eliminating the transporter’s need to decide on priority of assigned tasks. Upon completion, the transporter effortlessly clicks the "Transport Completed" button.
MDA TransQuest in the News
MDA TransQuest was featured in the December/January issue of Acuity Care Technology. Read Emergency Departments Can Save Time, Money With Instant Communications
Upcoming Health Industry Events
Stop by Booth #2430 at HIMSS08 Annual Conference and Exhibition February 24-28, 2008 in Orlando. Learn more at www.HIMSSconference.org
MDA TransQuest will also be at the National Association of Healthcare Access Management 34th Annual Meeting May 3-6, 2008 in Dallas, TX. Click here for more information.
Schedule a demo
Haven’t seen MDA TransQuest yet? Sign up now for an exclusive demo by contacting bsheetz@mdatransquest.com.