Wireless communication devices
{Currently Editing...} Wireless communication devices allow healthcare professionals to perform various routine tasks all while at the point of care. Wireless technology in the healthcare environment is possible by combining a secure wireless network infrastructure with one or more wireless communication devices. Using handheld devices or mobile computers, healthcare professionals can have real-time access to various applications in a clinical information system (CIS) while mobile or at a patient's bedside.
Contents
Types
There are several different types of wireless communication devices and each of them offers healthcare assistance in a variety of ways.
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA): a handheld device which may provide the ability to access and update a patient’s electronic health record (EHR), barcode scanning, capture vitals, view laboratory results, or access a web-based clinical information system with a built-in web-browser. A PDA has the potential to improve a healthcare professional’s clinical decision making and may allow for more timely review of urgent radiological exam results.
Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA): a handheld device which may contain all the capabilities of a standard PDA as well as the functionality of a scanner and cell phone
Smartphone: mobile phone with enhanced capabilities which may contain some or all of the features of a PDA
Tablet Computer: may contain all the functions of a handheld device as well as offering the ability for healthcare professionals to view a patient’s x-rays at their bedside
Mobile Computer: also referred to as a computer on wheels (COW) is a mobile computer cart containing a laptop which allows a healthcare professional use various functionalities of a CIS
Voice Activated Badge: a wireless device that allows healthcare professionals to instantaneously contact each other anywhere in an organization using voice over IP (VoIP)
Potential
Examples
CIS runs on Google G1 Smart Phone: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS214470+13-Jan-2009+PRN20090113
See also:
References
Submitted by (DQuitmeyer)
