PDA’s and Remote Patient Care By Cassandra Kennicott, RN

Objectives Describe Remote Patient Care Describe the hardware used Describe the software used Evaluate the usability of the software Describe the information system used

Describe Remote Patient Care PDA connects to hospital main server via internet Health care provider is able to view patient records Aids in diagnosis and treatment of patients (Fornell, 2008)

Describe the Hardware Used PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistant) Smart Phones Computers (often laptops)

PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) Small, handheld Has wireless internet connection Capable of running computer programs Often referred to as Pocket PC

Describe the Software used Connectivity software used SOTI NEXGIN-RC AMAC Merlin through St Jude Medical

NEXGIN-RC Focuses on antenatal care Enables patients in remote areas to be seen (NEXGIN-RC, 2008)

NEXGIN-RC (continued)

Evaluate the Usability of the Software Usability – how humans and computers perform Has several indicators 3 axioms of usability

Axioms

Axiom 1: Early and Central Focus on Users Must understand users in depth Usually advanced practice or critical care nurses Designers should have direct contact with users

Axiom 2: Applications Must Have Iterative Design Critical care nurses evaluate designs Users and designers determine effectiveness

Axiom 3: Must be Empirical Usability Measures May be formal or informal

Describe the Information System Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) Specifically, the Evidence Based Guideline and Decision Support System (EGADSS) is being considered (NEXGIN-RC, 2008)

EGADSS Stand alone Information system, interacts with EMR Uses HL7 data standards Disease and Procedure Classification System used? A nursing information system?

Advantages No need for patients to travel Increases efficiency of health care Ease of use Assist in decision process

Disadvantages What happens when something breaks? Internet goes down

Are there any issues with this? Legal issues? Patient confidentiality Transmitting patient information on a server Ethical issues? Loss of PDA

What training is necessary for this? Proposed training is minimal How to use the device Where to place sensors

Functions of the Informatics Nurse In this specific instance there is no nurse role In other RPMS: User education Implementation Support (McKesson, 2009)

In Summary….. RPMS is in our future Allows patients to be monitored anywhere Gives patients more autonomy

References Geeknet, Inc. (2010). Sourceforge: Find and Develop Open Source Software. Retrieved from Fornell, D. (2008). PDA’s Bring Handheld Solutions to Healthcare. Retrieved February 20, 2010, from

References Continued Lofstrom, J. & Casey, Y. (2009). HIMSS Informatics Nurse Impact Study. Retrieved from esson.com/MPT/Documents/Nursing_Infor matics_2009.pdf NEXGIN-RC. (2008).Remote Patient Monitoring System. Retrieved February 20, 2010, from x x

References Continued Price, M. & Bilykh, I. (2004). EGADSS! It’s ThiNK. Retrieved from ation.pdf. ation.pdf Staggers, N. (2003). Human Factors: Imperative Concepts for Information Systems in Critical Care. AACN, 14(3),