Full Clinician Involvement Key to Success – Reader Comment

In response to the recent debate in E-Health Insider about whether PDAs or tablet PCs offer the best device to provide to front line clinicians, Sue Wilson head of IM&T (acute services) at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust, stresses that it is not the choice of device but involvement of clinicians that counts:

I agree with Dr. Hart, letter "Evidence needed to make an informed decision", that "user needs" assessments are imperative when evaluating any device mobile or otherwise.

In my experience some of the key messages from clinicians are quite clear – ‘make my job easier, not harder’; ‘ensure IT is simple to use’ and don’t let it take more time to do a task that it does now, preferably quicker’.

The National Programme for IT is introducing solutions which I truly believe will support the modernisation of healthcare, but all the functionality in the world will not suffice, if the process of inputting information is difficult, slow and frustrating for clinical staff. The net result – lack of clinical buy-in.

I am personally an advocate of virtual simulated models, where wards, clinics, theatres, DTCs, etc are recreated in a test situation, which reflects the live environment. By using various input devices with clinical scenarios, users are asked to test the processes before a system goes live in a clinical area. This way what works and what does not is clearly understood.

The issue is much broader than PDA versus Tablet PC, as it really is about all input devices and how they can support clinical processes of care. Take the ward round. Do we modify the ward trolley to accommodate a mobile device or expect them to carry the device around or take a second trolley on the ward round?

How do we accommodate individual preferences for using keyboards, stylus, touchscreen, and dictation? How long is the battery life and what happens with simultaneous ward rounds? Will tablet PCs be practical in outpatient clinics?

Many clinicians dictate, so digital dictation may be part of the solution and perhaps voice recognition as technology advances in sophistication. Is there an opportunity for a pedal under the operating table to enable the use of digital dictation in Theatres?

I could go on, but there is no, one solution that will fit all clinical scenarios. It is imperative that clinicians are involved in all these discussions and that we do not decide what types of mobile devices will work for them.

Sue Wilson

Head of IM&T (Acute Services), Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

Previous Contributions to the PDA vs Tablet Debate:

• In June Dr Andrew Harrison wrote about his experience of using a Tablet PC on the wards – The Tablet PC on Test .
  
• In response Steve Garrington, CEO of Torex Health, argued the case in favour of PDAs as the best mobile devices for clinicians – Open Source – Tablet PCs wrong for Doctors
  
• Then Counsultant Anaesthetist Dr Ian Paterson, joined the fray arguing that the technology has potential but must first mature – Tablet PCs or PDAs? 
  
• Tablet PC vs PDA, the debate continues (part 3)…

If you have a view about mobile devices in health, or on how best to ensure full clinician involvement and buy-in in the introduction of new systems, please drop us a line. Email comment@e-health-media.com.