ipads and healthcare

Barbara Dixon

Module 3

Better Healthcare Right at Your Doctor’s Fingertips – Apple and Citrix

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Guest_Columnist_710/Better_Healthcare_Right_at_Your_Doctor_s_Fingertips.shtml

1.      Why was this article, blog, post, or multimedia chosen? What makes it interesting, appropriate, or reputable?

This article by Fleck (2010), Vice President of Community and Solutions Development at Citrix System is great. He discusses the use of technologies that leave the big bulky medication carts on wheels (mCOWs) in the stone ages.  By utilizing iPads with virtualization solutions such as Citrix, nurses and doctors can round on patients and document their assessments, medication administrations, and notes in real time (Fleck, 2010).

2.      Is it an opinion? Case study? Research study? Product review?

I would consider this a product review of Apple iPads and Citrix

3.      What was the need, problem, issue or trend addressed in the article, blog, post, or multimedia?

The problem is the difficulty nurses and doctors have accessing patient’s electronic health record (EHR), which results in a slowing down of treatment.

4.      What was the solution for which technology had an answer?

The solution of convenient and secure access to patients EHR.

5.      What implications might this have in healthcare delivery?

The need to run around the unit and look for a computer to use is eliminated. Doctor’s will be able to view their patient’s information from anywhere with wifi,(and soon with 3G) and can put in patient’s orders based on the most accurate information.   The hospital I worked at used Citrix, which was frequently used by doctors who would check on their hospital patient charts from their office.  By making access for healthcare professionals easier, while still securing the patient’s information is exactly what is needed on the busy hospital units. I believe that iPads with Citrix can improve patient safety, decrease costs, an improve patient and employee satisfaction (Fleck, 2010)!

6.      What did you learn from it that might have application for your practice?

I learned that iPads are creating a way to care for patients better and treat them faster. When the rehab that I work at upgrades to implement an eMAR, having medication carts on wheels (mCOWs), might not be the best solution. If it is in the budget, iPADS for the nurses in addition to the med carts that are already on the units as well as for the physicians might prove to be a better solution (Fleck, 2010).

Fleck, C. (2010). Better healthcare right at your doctor’s fingertips - Apple and Citrix. Retrieved February 2, 2017 from: http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Guest_Columnist_710/Better_Healthcare_Right_at_Your_Doctor_s_Fingertips.shtml

02/16/017
An article by Ventola (2014) reinforces the importance of technology and mobile devices in healthcare.  This author reviewed several studies that demonstrated that physicians spend a lot of time on their mobile devices searching for clinical information to support their decisions.   Some of the reasons are due to the many benefits such as increased convenience, increased productivity and efficiency, improved accuracy, and improved clinical decision making. The trend of increasing use of mobile devices is expected to continue along with the development of improved apps to support clinical decision making (Ventola, 2014).

References
Ventola, C. L. (2014). Mobile Devices and Apps for Health Care Professionals: Uses and Benefits. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 39(5), 356–364. Retrieved February 16, 2017 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4029126/