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 internetHealth 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 usedSOTI

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 http://sourceforge.net/projects/egadss/.

Fornell, D. (2008). PDA’s Bring Handheld Solutions to Healthcare. Retrieved February 20, 2010, from http://www.dicardiology.net/node/28623//

References Continued

Lofstrom, J. & Casey, Y. (2009). HIMSS Informatics Nurse Impact Study. Retrieved from http://www.mckesson.com/static_files/McKesson.com/MPT/Documents/Nursing_Informatics_2009.pdfNEXGIN-RC. (2008).Remote Patient Monitoring System. Retrieved February 20, 2010, from http://rpms.nexginrc.org/RPMS_Home.aspx

References Continued

Price, M. & Bilykh, I. (2004). EGADSS! It’s ThiNK. Retrieved from http://www.egadss.org/Think_Presentation.pdf.

Staggers, N. (2003). Human Factors: Imperative Concepts for Information Systems in Critical Care. AACN, 14(3), 310-319.