Discussion Forum for Health Informatics Professionals and Students
Using an iPad for accessing the EMR
The new Apple iPad could be a great device for doctors to access the EMR on. It looks like it could be easily wiped clean so could be more hygienic than devices with lots of buttons on the front. It is also lightweight and pretty easy to use.
If the EMR uses a web interface, this could be the ideal advice to physicians and nurses on the move.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris on -
I agree that there's a lot to be said for pen and paper but it should be used in addition to the IT systems and not instead of them.
Tablets have been around in healthcare for a long time. They seem like an obvious solution to the problem of physicians and nurses needing access to information while on their feet. However, none of the devices offered so far have really taken off in the healthcare industry. I think the biggest problems have been weight and clunky operating systems. Some tablets take several minutes to boot up or log in, this is really not acceptable in the healthcare environment.
If the iPhone is anything to go by, this iPad will be to tablets what the iPhone is to clunky windows mobile 'Pocket PC' type devices. It will out-perform on many levels to the extent that it could possibly be a solution the problem of giving mobile health professionals access to their information systems without needing to sit down at a computer.
Like most technology innovations in healthcare this will be driven by the individual practitioners. If they insist on having an iPad, they'll get it eventually, even if they have to buy it themselves and bring it into their clinics or hospitals.
If a hospital EMR/EHR is web-based, this looks like a viable tool for accessing it.
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Permalink Reply by Eduardo Almeida on -
Chris Paton,
Very well said. I totally agree. The problem has been presented to the medical community. We need more efficiency. However, sometimes I get the impression that the old school is totally closed to any attempt towards technology. I was reading an article another day in which the writer was presenting a very interesting contradiction. On one hand, health care professionals and providers do love technology if the subject is towards xrays, ultrasound, and other exam related devices. On the other hand, the big majority and especially the old school, is very skeptical about EMR Applications.
I personally think that EMR Applications are no longer a need, but a MUST to all medical industry. Doctors cannot write faster and if they do it is going to be even harder to get their writing. The whole purpose on opting for an EMR solution is the focus we must have in a possible future with less redundancies, which might help us lowering costs. Then we have the need for mobility, access, and reliable and secure sharing options. If we rely on hand writing, I am sorry, but we will never get there. Also, I totally buy the argument and understand when the previous generation says that they cannot provide the best medical advice and services if they have to struggle with computer clicks at the same time. However, it is very much true that the new generation can get notes done at least twice faster and 1000 times neater if they type instead of using the regular pen and paper. As our clocks moves to the future and not to the past…
Here at EasyMedFile.com, which is our EMR web-based proposal, we have a project/idea in which we can allow doctors to hand write on a table PC and then we attach that as a digital file to the patient’s record. No text recognition involved, we simply save that as an image. That idea got stuck. Why? With that option we could be addressing the problem the old school has with keystrokes. But, we would have again to give up on a solution that goes towards those topics I mentioned previously about efficiency and lower costs.
So, what is more important to you?
What is your take, convenience or efficiency?
Are you willing to give a try to the new iPad or any other new attempt/device created by the hardware industry?
What are your thoughts?
I look forward to your input, which will certainly guide software companies like ours.
Regards to you all,
Eduardo Almeida
EasyMedFile.com
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Permalink Reply by Jared Houck on
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There is a large gap between what many HOPE the iPad will do and what it actually CAN do. Tablet PCs have been on the market for many years and promised many of the same things. The limiting factor has been (and most likely will continue to be) software. In the US, CCHIT/Drummond certification (via the ARRA stimulus) will be the badge that differentiates what healthcare facilities will actually support and purchase.
I've listed another 10 reasons the current iPad will not be significantly deployed in h... if you have the time.
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Permalink Reply by John Meredith on -
Agreed. Load of hot air at the moment and only time will tell. The Citrix angle is interesting though, but I still cannot see them being deployed in the UK NHS...ever.
Jared Houck said:There is a large gap between what many HOPE the iPad will do and what it actually CAN do. Tablet PCs have been on the market for many years and promised many of the same things. The limiting factor has been (and most likely will continue to be) software. In the US, CCHIT/Drummond certification (via the ARRA stimulus) will be the badge that differentiates what healthcare facilities will actually support and purchase.
I've listed another 10 reasons the current iPad will not be significantly deployed in h... if you have the time.
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Why thank you John. You are both a gentleman and a scholar.
JH
John Meredith said:Agreed. Load of hot air at the moment and only time will tell. The Citrix angle is interesting though, but I still cannot see them being deployed in the UK NHS...ever.
Jared Houck said:There is a large gap between what many HOPE the iPad will do and what it actually CAN do. Tablet PCs have been on the market for many years and promised many of the same things. The limiting factor has been (and most likely will continue to be) software. In the US, CCHIT/Drummond certification (via the ARRA stimulus) will be the badge that differentiates what healthcare facilities will actually support and purchase.
I've listed another 10 reasons the current iPad will not be significantly deployed in h... if you have the time.
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Permalink Reply by Eduardo Almeida on
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Have you guys seen this one?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20000034-264.html?tag=nl.e703
Now it is Google's time to present its Tablet OS.
Enjoy,
Eduardo Almeida
EasyMedFile.com
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Permalink Reply by Chris on
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Interesting. Looks like there might be a new Google vs Apple rivalry brewing - which can only be good for us!
Eric Schmidt hinted at this at Davos:
His opinion of the iPad? He never commented on other companies. Though he couldn't quite resist a lateral jab: "You might want to tell me the difference between a large phone and a tablet." Beam.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/29/google-davos-ru...
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