For Release April 28, 2001
COLUMBUS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RELEASES FINDINGS ON USE OF
PALM PILOTS煤 IN PEDIATRIC RESIDENCYMedically Configured Palm Pilots Successful in Tracking Inpatients and Procedures
BALTIMORE, APRIL 28, 2001 --- A study at Columbus Children's Hospital demonstrates that physicians are on board with the recent trend in the increased use of Palm Pilots煤 and other handheld computer devices. This technology has many practical applications in the clinical setting as evidenced by the study that concluded Palm Pilots could successfully be used by physicians in training to track inpatients, clinic patients and procedures and provide immediate access to important formulary information such as drug dosing and side effects. Pediatric resident David Rich, M.D., of Children's Hospital of Columbus, presented his findings from an initial study conducted among a class of interns who were required to use Palm Pilots. These findings were presented Saturday, April 28 at the 2001 Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting.
"Living in the information age, it only makes sense that physicians take advantage of the current technology to increase their efficiency and devote more time to direct patient care," said Dr. Rich. "There are many uses for personal digital assistants. Our study showed that the interns adapted well to tracking patients and procedures on the Palm Pilots, minimizing the loss of data and allowing for a more efficient transfer of patient information among physicians."
All 19 incoming interns for the 2000-2001 academic year received Palm Pilots during orientation and attended a two-hour workshop detailing the use of the device and the program guidelines. A survey was administered three months after the Palm Pilots were put into practice to obtain qualitative and quantitative data regarding usage.
The Palm Pilots were equipped with the standard Palm software (Vx 3Com) and three pieces of third party software, PatientKeeper (PatientKeeper, Inc.), Jfile (LandJ Technologies) and Pedsdrugs (Skyscape).
The study revealed that 47 percent of interns found tracking patients via the PatientKeeper software was more useful than tracking via handwritten methods. While not statistically significant, this group of interns logged more patients with Palm Pilots than interns in two previous years had through a computerized database. Finally, 47 percent of interns noted that knowledge of Columbus Children's use of Palm Pilots in training would have positively influenced their choice of residency.
"Our pilot program was so successful that we have now expanded the use of Palm Pilots to the entire residency program," added Dr. Rich. "The use of this device has the potential to help us train more efficient physicians. With advances in wireless technology, PDAs will soon be capable of functioning as two-way transmission devices, receiving information from the hospital's lab and patient information systems and transmitting physician orders."
Columbus Children's Hospital ranks among the top 10 in NIH research awards and grants to freestanding children's hospitals in the country. With nearly 500,000 patient visits each year, Children's Hospital is a 107-year-old pediatric healthcare network treating newborns through age 21. In 2000, the Children's Research Institute conducted more than 90 research projects. Pediatric Clinical Trials International (PCTI), a site management organization affiliated with the hospital, also coordinated 43 clinical trials. In addition to having one of the largest ambulatory programs in the country, Children's offers specialty programs and services, including more than 18 support groups. Each year, more than 75,000 consumers receive health and wellness education and 2,500 students from 50 institutions and 500 residents receive training at Children's. More information on Children's Hospital of Columbus is available by calling (614) 722-KIDS (5437) or through the hospital's Web site at http://www.childrenscolumbus.org.
RSS