Healthcare Applications for Clinicians - E-Healthcare Systems and Wireless Communications - page 60

On-the-Go Access to
Patient Information

needed due to the dispersion of information at
multiple sites in the hospital (Gibbs, 2009). Even
with wired IT healthcare systems, the clinician
is unable to access the data outside the hospital
premises (Gibbs, 2009). This gives rise to the
need to accommodate wireless technologies in the
hospital environment, in order to make the hospital
practices efficient and to improve the quality of
care delivered in many ways (Gibbs, 2009).
Experts concluded that there are not enough
wireless solutions for clinicians in the healthcare
industry, and the mobile applications that have
been developed for doctors, are not perceived as
useful enough by the doctors. (Alasaarela, 2008)
Hence wireless technology in healthcare does not
meet the doctors' demands/requirements and there
exists a demand for such wireless applications in
healthcare that would efficiently assist the health
professionals in their healthcare tasks, would be
easily adjustable in the current state at the hospital
and would aim towards positive improvement of
the healthcare practices. (Alasaarela, 2008)

Mobile access to patient information is another
featured benefit of wireless networks in health-
care organizations. Patient information can be
immediately accessed and reviewed via handheld
devices at the patient bedside (Fiser, 2004), thus
saving the clinicians' time for critical tasks. Clini-
cians can access the patient's laboratory results
and other information on their wireless devices
from anywhere within network range (Business
Wire, 2004). According to Hockaday (2007 cited
in Nursing Standard, 2008), one of the important
benefits of wireless solutions in hospitals is the
immediate availability of patient information
when needed at the point of care. When doctors
have on-the-go access to patient information, it
has also proved to reduce the treatment time of
patients and has led to an increase in the mobility
of the clinician (Igbokwe, n.d.).

Increased Patient Satisfaction

4.2. Benefits

Wireless applications in healthcare also allow
clinicians to treat a greater number of patients in
a lesser amount of time (Motorola, 2006). Patients
are more satisfied with their experiences and the
quality of care-giving at the hospital (Motorola,
2006). Up-to-date patient information translates
into non-delayed patient treatment (Motorola,
2006).

Improved Hospital Staff Communication

Communication among the hospital staff is greatly
improved with the use of wireless technologies.
The required staff member can be easily contacted
through the wireless network, thus increasing ef-
ficient time usage (Cisco System Inc.) and increas-
ing staff productivity (Motorola, 2006). When
empowered with handheld devices connected
to wireless network, the doctors can remain in
contact with each other virtually anywhere within
or outside the hospital premises (Igbokwe, n.d.;
Motorola, 2006). They can send and receive patient
details and results of procedures in the hospital
at any time (Igbokwe, n.d.). Response time in a
medical disaster situation is also reduced and is
more frequent and reliable (Igbokwe, n.d.).

Improved Clinical Decision Making

Wireless access to patient information means
that the required information is accurate and is
readily available. According to Dr. Heslop (n.d.
cited in Motorola, 2006) the hospital staff tends
to make more efficient clinical decisions for
their patients when required information can be
accessed quickly.