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| UAMS Uses New Handheld Device (10/16/06) by Carla Hester, RNC, PhDc |
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Just imagine: documenting on a hand held device carried with you to the patient’s bedside…. being paged on your pocket pager when lab results are back instead of repeatedly checking for them…..documenting in one place and having it flow over to other places in the patients’ record…sound like a dream? This dream is becoming a reality at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The Sunrise Project, with the Eclypsis system at its core, promises to be a beaconfor UAMS. Eclypsis is an integrated, interdisciplinary information, orders and results, and documentation system. One goal of this system is to allow access to patient healthcare information anytime, anywhere. Using one integrated system will allow providers access to the health records, lab values, medical test results and much more, for any patient, from any connected work station. |
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This will increase efficiency of workflow for all providers and will ultimately result in improved patient care delivery. By automating certain aspects of documentation, the nurses will be able to provide care that is tailored to meet the patient’s individual needs while increasing the time available for direct care. Incorporating Knowledge-Based Charting (KBC), a system of pre-designed protocols that guide nursing care, will enhance evidence based practice, resulting in improved patient satisfaction and outcomes, as well as a cost savings for the facility. Considering the mandate from Joint Commission Accreditation Hospital Organization (JCAHO) and other regulatory bodies to be in a state of “continuous readiness”, it is essential to find ways to assure adherence to evidence based standards. According to Mary Helen Forrest, CNO for UAMS, “Implementation of the Sunrise project with its interdisciplinary knowledge based charting, offers nursing and other professional disciplines the opportunity to ensure consistent, evidence based care to patients. The clinical alerts, easy retrieval of patient related information, medication administration safety features and the ability to view and trend data in multiple formats enhances the quality and safety of patient care. Sunrise also allows the nurse to spend less time organizing and documenting care and more effort focusing on giving face to face care.” |
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| The system uses workflow reminders that reinforce best practices supported by current standards of care. For example, if a medication requires a special assessment, the nurse will be reminded when she accesses the on-line system. This automated reminder will “cue” the nurse to provide the care that may make a difference in the patient’s health outcome. Likewise, when a duplicate medication order is written, a “flag” would alert the physician of this duplication, decreasing the risk of human error. Another time saving technological advance that is supported by Sunrise is the integration of monitoring devices with the documentation system. This allows information such as vital signs, pulse oximetry readings and fetal heart tones to be automatically captured and stored in the system. This feature facilities immediate review and analysis of patient information. These enhancements save health care providers time and enhance patient outcomes. |
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The nursing shortage continues to be a major concern for health care facilities nationwide. Nurses are physically exhausted and emotionally drained from the demands placed on them. As nurses cope with heavy patient loads, sicker patients and a shortage of qualified nurses, there is a beacon in the dark. While documentation is often seen as an added burden, the right system, planned with input from all users can actually decrease workload and improve communication. |
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| Marshall, S. & Greene, L. (2005). Harness technology for sustainable regulatory compliance. Nursing Management, 36(12), 36-39. Upenicks,V. (2005). Recruitment and retention strategies: A magnet hospital prevention model. | ||
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