Article
Mobile device improves documentation workflow and nurse satisfaction
CARING Newsletter
(2008)
Abstract
Alegent Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska opened in August of 2004 and was hailed as one of the world's most technologically integrated hospitals. Alegent used a barcode medication administration and documentation system combined with use of workstations on wheels (WOWs). In 2006, soon after Alegent went live with these systems, several workflow challenges emerged that directly affected nursing satisfaction and introduced new risks for error. To address many of the identified problems, nursing and hospital leaders examined the problems more closely and decided to explore a new type of mobile device, the Motion C5 (C5). They conducted a pilot project using the C5 to assess improvements in clinician productivity, nurse satisfaction, data latency, and quality of care. Nurses had a lightweight, portable device that was theirs to use for the entire shift. They gained unimpeded access to patient information, and no longer had to contend with other clinicians for access to a device. They could document and access information when and where their workflow called for it. Since the C5 was a personal rather than a shared-access device, nurses could remain logged into their C5 between patients as they made their rounds. The C5 enabled nurses to increase documentation at the point of care, which improved accuracy of clinical documentation and reduced duplications. These changes resulted in improved nurse satisfaction and clinical productivity.
Keywords
- Peer Reviewed,
- Computer/Information Science,
- Editorial Board Reviewed,
- Nursing
Disciplines
Publication Date
2008
Citation Information
Cheryl D Parker and K. Baldwin. "Mobile device improves documentation workflow and nurse satisfaction" CARING Newsletter Vol. 23 Iss. 2 (2008) p. 14 - 18 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/cheryl-parker/41/