Last year the National Association for Home Care and Hospice confirmed that tablet use is on the rise at home healthcare agencies. Since this trend is now proving to reduce costs while enhancing care coordination, it has taken off among Oklahoma home healthcare agencies and will only grow stronger as time passes.
The tablets themselves are the same models regularly available to consumers: the iPad, Galaxy, and even the Kindle. The difference is that they contain electronic health records (EHR) software and other relevant applications. Most caregivers are also provided with a stylus and Bluetooth-enabled keyboard, which is a more compact solution than a laptop.
The proven benefits of tablet use in the healthcare field are itemized below.
Real-Time Access to Patient Data
Caregivers can access vital data on office visits, lab results, and even hospitalizations in real-time. According to a recent survey, two-thirds of health systems and hospitals have deployed these RPM (remote patient monitoring) technologies.
The tablets are used to support patients with chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, as well as patients who have recently been discharged from the hospital.
Reduced Turnaround for Documentation
Tablet use has significantly reduced the amount of time needed for patient documentation. Under the former system, three days was the average. If a caregiver visited a patient on a Monday and a different specialist saw the same patient on a Tuesday, the specialist did not have the details of the Monday visit.
Now that information is available more quickly, which improves productivity as well as the quality of patient care.
Improved Privacy Safeguards
Built-in cameras on the tablet allow healthcare clinicians to take photos and send them swiftly and securely. In the past, digital cameras were used to take pictures, which were later uploaded.
These cameras were sometimes lost, and the added step of manually uploading photos made the entire visual documentation process longer. For added security, tablets can be remotely wiped clean if they are lost or stolen.
Decreased Medical Supply Costs
Ordering medical supplies is faster, easier, and more cost-effective thanks to a standardized formulary installed on the tablets. Instead of calling a medical supply vendor, the order is compiled, checked, and sent through the device.
Bottom Line
Tablets with remote patient monitoring software installed can help Oklahoma home healthcare agencies improve patient care quality, share critical healthcare information between providers, control supply costs, and keep confidential patient data more secure.
Apps are also becoming increasingly sophisticated: they provide patient information ‘dashboards’, collect and consolidate data, dispense prescriptions, monitor refills, and improve communications. With new advancements taking place daily, the rule of the tablet in healthcare is becoming central.
Does the staff at your home healthcare agency use tablets? If so, have you noticed tangible benefits? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments box below.
And to follow up on the tips introduced in this article, be sure to download your free Information Technology Guide for Oklahoma City Home Health Care Organizations.
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