Mobile technology promises enhanced patient care and optimized workflows, but how do organizations fulfill this for patients and providers alike?
At MEDITECH LIVE 2024, I moderated a panel with leadership from Northern Montana Health Care, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, and Phoebe Putney Health System. Each panelist shared insights on implementing effective mobility strategies that can refine healthcare delivery at any organization. They shared their experiences of embracing mobile solutions and putting them into practice – and the impact was undeniable.
The process looked different at every organization, and even within individual departments, but the objective was the same: improve efficiency, enhance care delivery, and increase patient and provider satisfaction.
Garrit Ophus, Director of Information Systems at Northern Montana Health Care explained that their mobility approach was an ongoing one. Their initiative began a few years ago with the adoption of Expanse, and their mobility has expanded parallel to MEDITECH’s advancement of mobile technology.
Their organization decided to employ device labs to test new technologies and utilized pilot groups to determine the most effective mobile solutions to meet their providers’ needs. When asked to share an important takeaway, Ophus said: “Device labs, testing, and more testing with a pilot group”, reiterating the benefits they’ve experienced with this process.
Northern Montana Health Care has found success tailoring their mobility approach to each department’s individual set of needs and have already reported lower rates of burnout in their ED, and intend to continue pioneering their mobility transformation.
At Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, the pandemic served as a catalyst for accelerating their adoption of mobile technology. Dr. Chris Grime, Chief Clinical Information Officer, recounts the organization previously being very desktop-based; but overnight they issued laptops in order to continue some of their services virtually and these devices still remain an integral part of their workflows.
Responding to the pandemic with the implementation of mobile solutions ignited a spark at Alder Hey, and they continue to explore the potential of mobile technology. The organization conducted a research trial with nurses using mobile devices for early sepsis detection and hospital-acquired condition interventions which proved to only reinforce the impact of a mobility strategy.
Dr. Grime’s insights serve as a blueprint for other healthcare professionals looking to deploy mobile solutions because his advice is simple: “Don’t get distracted by what you think is cool, instead always be very clear about the problem you’re trying to solve.” Alder Hey has been successful in their strategy by clearly identifying their objectives and keeping provider and patient needs at the forefront of their mobility journey.
Phoebe Putney Health System is pioneering an innovative approach to mobility, guided by their “Future of Nursing” work group. Kelsey Reed, DNP, MHA, MSN, FNP-C, Director of Patient Care was a visionary in establishing this group and transforming mobility at her organization with the launch of Phoebe Putney’s virtual nursing program. Initially they began with a pilot program in their observation unit but now they’ve expanded the use of mobile devices, improving the quality of documentation and reducing burnout among their nurses.
Reed shared the successes of the program and encouraged listeners interested in launching a virtual nursing program saying, “Do not put your virtual nurse in a box.” At Phoebe Putney, they were impressed with just how much a virtual nurse can do.
Virtual nurse responsibilities can range from patient and caregiver education, documentation, admission, medication reconciliation, follow-up care, and more. The program has been so successful that the organization is looking to bring the virtual nurse model to other departments, like pharmacy for example.
Healthcare systems can enhance patient care, improve workflows, and empower healthcare providers by embracing mobile devices and tailoring their implementation to the needs of their staff. As technology continues to evolve, the possibilities for mobile health solutions are vast, and these panelists' insights offer valuable guidance for organizations seeking to leverage mobility for better patient outcomes.
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