Our ICU staff still document both Online and manually. We're not quite there yet... we're waiting for a flow sheet and then working towards paperless!
Regarding equipment, our staff in the ICU's have basically 1 PC per bed - which could be any one of the following: * a wall mounted Ergotron system with PC (set up just outside the patient bed area shared between two ICU bed) * or a Stinger Cart with IBM laptop * or Ergotron Cart with IBM laptop * or we have desktop PC's wherever possible... One of our ICU's is like a strawberry box - it is TINY... with all the equipment the staff opted for more wall mounted units vs. laptops... In our other ICU, they like the flexibility and convenience of the laptops on carts - they have more room, and see this solution as a real positive. Prior to buying equipment, we did a thorough assessment of all clinical areas in the hospital. We assessed geography, workflow, acuity, nurse to patient ratio's, allied health, clerical and physician ratio's per unit We also did workflow studies and observed the way people worked in their specific clinical areas. Based on our assessments we came up with a formula - so to speak - regarding device and numbers... and a process for device allocation. We had to include devices for Nursing, & Allied who document online, Physicians & Clerical support - so it basically came down to this... ICU's and high acuity areas rec'd 1 device per 1-2 patients (depending on the unit), 2 additional devices for Allied, 2 additional devices for Physicians, 1 device for each FT Clerical (which ended up being 1 or 2 more). These were not specifically earmarked per user rather included in the count for total numbers... Moderate acuity - acute care areas rec'd 1 device per nurse/5 beds, 1-2 for Allied, 1-2 Physicians, and 1-2 for clerical (again depended on the unit) We realized that online documentation at the point of care would require a change in practice - this is a slow process but is happening for many. There are those souls who won't change and those who are happy to try a new way of doing things... the best bet is to champion those willing to try a new way of doing things. I set up a DEMO-RAMA and came up with Clinician's preferences and criteria required in the purchase/procurement of devices. Handheld devices did not win... too small, we have too many screens requiring free text - typing so the keyboard was HUGELY important. For us and our end users, they felt the tablets (which we have trialed) were cumbersome, and bulky, and heavy ( they wanted keyboards attached - which ended up being a laptop - which ended up being on a cart because we needed them secured to something). And the handhelds were definitely not efficient for our Meditech interventions etc...the way we built them (assessments can be up to 20 screens long)... made it very SLOW for them to input data etc... (plus most couldn't even read the screens). We also piloted the various solutions to ensure they met our users needs and our expectations. I hope something here helped you!!! Thanks, Nancy Cunningham RN Clinical Informatics Specialist Humber River Regional Hospital Office: (416) 658-2183 Pager: (416) 680-5108 DISCLAIMER: **This communication is intended to be received by the individual or entity to whom or to which it is addressed. It may contain privileged, proprietary, and otherwise private and/or confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original. Any other use of the email by you is prohibited** ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of analyst Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 10:41 AM To: [email protected] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [MEDITECH-L] ICU Documentation Just wondering if there were any facilities that have an ICU or other criticial care unit that is totoally paperless with their documentation...if so, what type(s) of devices are you using...thanks, Denise Kedward Clinical Analyst OVHS&E Wheeling, WV Thanks, Nancy Cunningham RN Clinical Informatics Specialist Humber River Regional Hospital Office: (416) 658-2183 Pager: (416) 680-5108 DISCLAIMER: **This communication is intended to be received by the individual or entity to whom or to which it is addressed. It may contain privileged, proprietary, and otherwise private and/or confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original. Any other use of the email by you is prohibited** ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of analyst Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 10:41 AM To: [email protected] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [MEDITECH-L] ICU Documentation Just wondering if there were any facilities that have an ICU or other criticial care unit that is totoally paperless with their documentation...if so, what type(s) of devices are you using...thanks, Denise Kedward Clinical Analyst OVHS&E Wheeling, WV
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