Uses of Technology in the Patient Care Environment

to Empower Patient and Staff

Rebecca Hathaway, Senior VP, Healthcare – HMC ArchitectsNate Larmore, Principal, IT Architecture - Sparling

Learning Objectives

1) To discuss industry forces that are changing the context for planning and procurement of technologies

2) Review top technological issues being evaluated for the patient care environment

3) Reference specific cases illustrating how technology is being integrated today and planned for the future

It's the End of the Beginning

• Billions spent, billions more budgeted

• American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

• Healthcare Reform Bill

• Surging demand

• Technology enterprise in its infancy

The Target has Moved

• Higher expectations– Patient experience– Recruitment & retention– The 'Big 3'

• Better tools, new tools– Information & Communication– Biotechnology– Nanotechnology

Smarter Facilities, Smarter Tools

• Automated processes

• If you're thinking about it,it's probably not working

• Where & when matter

• Context-aware environments

Ergonomics beyond the furniture

• Patient mobility

• Repositioning devices

• Information access

• Communications

• Simple interfaces

Communications Where It Counts

86% Estimated 2-hours/day wasted "chasingother people to get answers"

56% Greatest challenge is "Better communication between staff"

92% "Medium to very high" impact on patientscaused by communication lapses

(Zogby International, 4/2009)

Smart Patient Rooms

Video Conferencing• Family• Physician

Tracking Systems

EMRPACsLab Results

RFID and Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS)

• Asset management

• Workflow management

• Resource management

• Monitoring

• Patient safety

• Process flow

Transforming Patient Experiences

• Interactive educational and entertainment media– Real-time patient feedback– Environmental controls– Integration to other systems

• Digital way-finding kiosks

• Transparent technology

Biometric Patient and Staff Identification

• Palm vein pattern recognition technology

– Patient safety

– Efficiency

– Customer service

– Medical records

– Staff access

What The Future Holds

• Speech-based interfaces

• Ever-increasing capabilities ofthe patient bed

• Proactive communicationsystems

• Information systems that drive "right data/right time/right place"

What The Future Holds

• Improved outcomes

• Very low readmission rates

• Lower cost of care

• High patient and family/visitor satisfaction

• Putting the nursing back into the nurse

In The More Distant Future