Snapshot: Information at the Point of Care

Contributing Author
Wendy McCubbin
Training Manager
Ergotron, Inc.

After suffering long enough from a nagging numbness in my right arm, I decided it was time to take what ails me to the doctor. My appointment was at a new clinic and during this first visit, I was amazed by the technology they have integrated into their practice.

Just after taking my vitals, the nurse asked if I’d been “set-up on on MyChart® yet.” I responded inquisitively, “Um, no?” So she sat me in front of the patient room computer and instructed me as to how to enter my personal demographic data.

An innovative web-based medical records system

MyChart is an innovative web-based system that facilitates a “patients as partners” approach to healthcare management by providing secure Internet access to an electronic version of medical records. Through MyChart, patients are uniquely able to:

Think about it: The doctor-patient relationship traditionally has been a one-way street. We’ve relied on our doctors to be the “owner” of our care plan and often rendered them the sole repository of pertinent medical information. But thanks to the World Wide Web, access to relevant medical information is just a click away.

Empowering patients through the Triangle of Care

So today we, as patients, become researchers of medical information and can take a more active role in managing our healthcare alternatives. In this fresh, new approach:

What I experienced is what Ergotron calls Patientricity™–moving the patient, the caregiver and technology together into a Triangle of Care. In the Triangle of Care, we validate technology as an essential point in the partnership to achieve increased interaction, safety and efficiency.

And yes, I can say first-hand: it was a truly satisfying patient experience!

The Trend: Implementation of Electronic Health Records

Many applications deployed in healthcare today (like MyChart) provide greater access to patient information. In fact, most of the core elements intrinsic to patient-centered care now can be achieved through this sort of advanced technology.

Technology that puts information at the point of care

Today’s visionary healthcare facilities understand the necessity of these applications. As such, they are implementing more sophisticated IT systems to support EMR (Electronic Medical Records), PACS (Picture Archival and Communications System), CPOE (Computerized Physician Order Entry) and many other applications.

What is the motivation for this trend?

Spending forecast

According to a report from London-based Datamonitor, United States Healthcare Organizations will spend more than $6.5 billion on EMR systems in 2012, meaning a compound annual growth rate of 21.9%. The conclusion is clear from these numbers: moving to more advanced IT infrastructures to support patient-centered care is a top priority.

But these applications only represent one element in the technological facet of the Triangle of Care. To facilitate easy access to these applications (i.e., help complete the Triangle of Care), the right computer mounting systems must deployed. So the question becomes: What are the risks if systems are deployed improperly?

The Problem: Getting Information Where It’s Needed

When implemented effectively by an IT department, an information infrastructure can:

But if the infrastructure is not designed properly—i.e., computers are not easily and comfortably accessible in critical locations—an organization may not produce an environment that will achieve those benefits. As a result, the interaction, satisfaction, efficiency and safety benefits, for both the caregiver and the patient, are compromised.

A day in the life ... without the Triangle of Care

Enlarge this graphic: Patient data is centralized on the computer at the Nursing Station; nurses chart the patients’ data at the bedside, but entering that data is done at the Nursing Station. The consequences of this process can be profound. For each patient assessment throughout the day:

There are many benefits to implementing the Triangle of Care, while the many risks in choosing not to are compounded by increasing pressure for change.

Key considerations

Experience shows that the following considerations must be made in order to have a successful Triangle of Care implementation:

The Solution: Building Infrastructure for the Triangle of Care

The Triangle of Care infrastructure should be transparent to the patient and the nuts and bolts activities should contribute to a sense of well-being for all concerned. Data must always be at hand and never in the way. To achieve this, a sophisticated blend of computer technology and display mounting and mobility solutions must be implemented.

In order to understand how you’re going to deploy the Triangle of Care throughout your facility, you must assess three essential elements:

People
Patient and caregiver demographics: Who are they? What’s the care plan? What kind of technological infrastructure will help these groups?
Processes
What does the daily routine look like? How do you define workflow? What applications do you presently use and what are you planning?
Product
What does your facility look like? What is the floor plan and where are the patient rooms in relation to specialty care areas? What is your facility’s specialization?

Understand the flow of information and “fit the workstation to the workflow”

Point of Care (POC) is a well-established industry term, referring to the place at which care, often testing and diagnostics, is provided. It is generally referred to as “bringing information closer to the patient or to the patient bedside.” But Ergotron believes POC extends beyond the bedside—to places physically separate from the patient but essential to their medical treatment, like labs or offices. The relationship that forms the Triangle of Care—which allows remote communication and direct access to vital information—holds the key to expanding the POC location.

A common misconception is that one product or solution can address these issues, i.e., “a cookie cutter approach” can be implemented while meeting high standards. This usually translates to a carts-only deployment. But such an approach often misses opportunities that can maximize space usage or lower physical demands on caregivers.

Hospitals that implement wall mounts, carts and desk mounts as part of their overall strategy achieve more benefits derived from the Triangle of Care than hospitals who opt for a “cookie-cutter” cart implementation. Why? Caregivers are able to access and respond to information effortlessly and intuitively.

What Ergotron can offer

Can IT infrastructure improve patient care? YES! Effectively implemented, the Triangle of Care enables easier access to information, which puts the patient where he or she belongs—in the center. That’s what we call Patientricity.

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