Module 2 Healthcare Information Systems and Devices

What is one way you could be involved in designing, selecting, evaluating, or implementing an information system in your workplace?

Where I work in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Primary Children's Hospital, correct information is essential and obtaining that information in a timely manner is imperative. We have council members who volunteer to take a role. An example of these roles are Developmental support, where a support persona makes sure that the staff gets emails and training or visual aids that support the most recent evidence-based information for our neonatal population. I am involved in this developmental support committee and attend meetings that also allow general non-committee staff to attend. This is one way of enhancing or coming up with new ideas or recruiting new volunteers. I have implemented a safety/precaution system at work in the past. NICU nurses handle mother's milk (which is a bodily fluid!) I noticed there were no gloves by the fridge where the milk was kept and I observed how many nurses brought their own gloves to the fridge to pour the milk. After noticing not many had brought their own, I discussed this problem with management and gloves were placed on a rack that was installed next to the fridge that next day. Newsletters and emails went out to the staff updating this new intervention. I felt that I had contributed to the evaluation, implementation, and selection of an information system. Biohazard poster also was posted next to the fridge to remind nurse that mother's milk is a bodily fluid.  Technology wise, the NICU has recently started to scan medications as they are administered to patients and I have new ideas that may make this process less painful. Currently the scan gun is wired to the wall with a stretch cord, and I knock everything off the counter every time that I scan the med-then scan the patient band at the bedside. A wireless scan gun would be more portable, less time consuming and make staff happier. These are a few examples of how I am involved in the information systems in my workplace. Technology is continually advancing at a rapid pace and it includes a large portion of the healthcare industry.