Crossroads of Caring and Technology

This is a guest post by Cheryl Parker, RN, PhD.

This past week I was asked to write a book chapter focused on the basics of nursing informatics for nursing instructors. When I write, I first try to figure out why the reader would want to spend valuable time reading my words…the “what’s in this for me?” factor.

Having been a faculty member in a small associate degree program a few years ago, I thought back to some of my wonderful colleagues and their attitudes about computers… you know, the big clunky things that are either on my desk at the college or on big carts at the hospital. Basically, a necessary evil.

Then, suddenly, a story from one of my clients popped into my head. During a visit to this client, a faith-based home health organization, I had the privilege of hearing of the experience of one of the ministers using mobile computing technology.

He told of a patient in their hospice program who was elderly, without many resources, and pretty much alone. During his visit, the patient mentioned that she would like to hear the classic hymns sung again but since she could no longer attend church and did not have a radio, she had no way to do so. The minister told us how he suddenly realized he had his mobile computing device with built in speakers and a connection to the Internet. He went online, found her favorite hymns and played them for her. This act brought joy into the life of one whose days were short. He told how he went home and downloaded more music and provided others with this comfort.

The minister was not a young man, he did not grow up surrounded by technology, but he had learned to see technology as more than a necessary evil, but another tool to provide caring and comfort. He had truly found the place at the crossroads of caring and technology.

- Cheryl Parker, Senior Informatics Specialist - Motion Computing

Webinar about Mobile Clinical Assistants

Interested in viewing a recorded webinar about mobile computers at the point-of-care? This one is titled, "Healthcare: The C5 MCA - Proven to Improve Clinician Productivity and Enhance Patient Care"

In this Motion-hosted Webinar, attendees will learn how the Motion C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA), the industry’s first MCA being used in thousands of healthcare organizations worldwide, is proven in healthcare environments. The C5, now with an integrated smart card reader for enhanced security, is improving clinician productivity, decreasing data input latency, improving documentation accuracy at the point-of-care and enhancing clinician satisfaction. Learn how the Motion C5’s highly mobile, lightweight design and integrated features make it the ideal choice for highly mobile clinicians. Running time: 32 minutes

Click here to view the recorded webinar.

Thoughts about mobile clinical assistants (MCAs)

Currently using an MCA in your hospital? Thinking about getting some for your hospital staff? Make sure to read this blog post on MobileHealthComputing.com

Motion C5 vs. Panasonic H1

The Uncertain Future of Tablet PCs

What type of future lies ahead for slate and convertible Tablet PCs? Will Apple revive the Tablet computer in 2009? Will pen-based computing be more than just a niche market where healthcare professionals dominate with the pen and point-and-click EHRs? As more smartphones, MP3 players, MIDs, video players, and other devices rely on touch-based input, will this naturally transition over to notebooks and netbooks? At one point, I remember thinking that we'd be seeing many more convertible laptops by now. Instead, I feel like that pie is shrinking.

There seems to be fewer convertible tablet PCs on the market from major manufacturers. For instance, Sony still hasn't released a convertible tablet PC. Also, Apple also hasn't jumped on this wagon quite yet. And, we hardly see a dedicated slate tablet PC these days. Fujitsu and Motion may be the only two companies making these (I realize there are others, but I wanted to pick on my favorites since I had/have a Fujitsu).

I'm still very happy with my Thinkpad X200 tablet and I wouldn't trade it for any standard notebook that's out there on the market. This computer has an active digitizer plus a passive touch screen. You really can't ask for more (well, maybe capacitive touch and multi-finger touch gestures).