CLINICIAN WORKFLOW ENHANCED BY TECHNOLOGY

 
The first rule working as a nurse is "WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER"! If you are a nurse and no one told you about the first rule, then you are at a disadvantage. The number one priority to every nurse is the PATIENT also known as the big Boss! As a nurse, my focus is all about my patient, so I depend on Technology to help me deliver the best level of care that is efficient and cost effective. It is hard to deliver the quality of care with outdated technology or technology that are hard to use. Miscommunication between caregivers can lead to medical errors, as well as the lack of collaboration among the team. Improving communication, and responding time, patient safety and connecting with staff members effortlessly can be achieved with the help of a technological tool.The IT department helps with the struggles that we encounter as nurses using technology to help us deliver the best care to the patient.IT department helps nurses with technological advances on workflow through consultation and collaborations on what works best for the nurses. If you have ever walked into a hospital, majority of the nurses if not in the patient room delivering care will be found right at the nurse's station, also known as the Mecca of the hospital. The majority of what nurses do centers around the nurse's station, its the HEART of patient care.



 WHAT IS WORKFLOW?Workflows represent how work actually gets done, not the protocols that have been established to do the work. This eliminates waste, improve communication, and helps the clinical workflow to run efficiently.

 HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY IMPACT THE CARE NURSES PROVIDE?

 Imagine being a patient in a hospital, you put on your call light, someone answers, you told them you would like to go to the bathroom, 15 minutes later you are still in bed waiting for that someone to help you to the bathroom.You got so tired of waiting you peed on yourself, and had to sit in it for another 10 minutes to get help. Now, how many of us nurses have been caught in a patient room unprepared for an emergency, but encounter one once in the patient room and there is nobody around. What do we typically do? Well, this is what is typically done, put on the call light, wait, and hope someone answers it. Finally, how many of us have walked away from the bulky phone that is assigned to you by the charge nurse, which is too heavy for your pocket, can't find a place in your cart so it get left behind right at the nursing station where you got it. Then  you need to call a doctor, so we walk to the nursing station to page a provider. Okay, so maybe I exaggerated a little bit, but this has and can happen in any hospital setting.This is where technology comes in, in a form of a portable clip on phone called Vocera.With a centralized call system, anyone can answer the call lights but not everyone will do what is required by the patient. With the new call system, with a push of the button, the call light goes directly to the patient care providers; the nurse and the nursing assistance. At my work setting, this goes directly to an assigned Vocera phone that vibrate and lights up with the room number to alert you if you are not looking at the central call board or can not hear the call light going off. This is achieved by assigning all patients the nurse will be caring for on the phone beginning of the shift, and then you record your name and record "start shift" to activate it and "end shift"at the end of the shift. It's lite, and cute and effective communication tool. Vocera phones are the truth! For example, if a nurse finds themselves in an emergency situation alone with the patient and needs help, with the help of the Vocera, all he/she needs to do is speak her command and it shall be done. What this phone does is improve point of care right at the bedside. Typically, in an emergency situation, you need to put on your call light or walk away from the patient to call for help. Vocera phone enhance patient care, prevent delays, keep you at the side of the patient and save lives. All nurses and staff members can be assembled with just a simple command such as "call all nurses to room 44", "call hospitalist" "call pharmacy" and much more. These can be done hand free since the vocera is clipped on compared to the old fashioned wireless phones nurses don't carry around because of it weight. Vocera does not only prevent falls, or call providers, it also sends alerts such as increased heart rates about patients on telemonitors, or Massimo reading that is not satisfactory. This way the nurse can react in time, communicate effectively with all teams involved in the patient care, and prevent adverse effects. This is effective since it prevents delays in care, prevent falls that are due to toileting, prevent fatal injuries that can be costly to the organization.This way, people can be accountable for their patient and improve patient satisfactions and outcomes. This was done in a collaborative effort with the IT department by making sure the IT system can handle the traffic coming in with the patient technology experience. An extensive education was given to nurses and aides by the IT team and nurse educators.
 INFO GRAPHIC OF WORKFLOW

BENEFITS:  

Enhance Healthcare Services

 

Watch this video to see the technology story from both sides!

 

Keep up with evolving patient needs, compete with industry peers through access to vital information at the right time,  improve patient safety and improve patient outcomes WITH VOCERA. 

 

NOW THIS WILL SET OFF YOUR ALARMS!

REFERENCES

REDESIGNING WORKFLOW 

CLINICAL WORKFLOW 

IMPROVE WORKFLOW