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.

Module 1 Entry

Hello. My name is Tanjula, pronounced like Angela with a "T" in the front. My graduate area is Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in the DNP cohort. I have worked in the Newborn Intesive Care Unit (NICU) at Primary Children's Hospital (PCMC) for 11 years now. I love my job and plan to continue working in the NICU after graduation. 

As a graduate level nurse, I will be using computerized technology for many different areas of my job. I am able to look up patient labs, computerized x-rays, and access patient history information online in a timely manner (even between distant hospitals). This technology makes the process of patient care more consistent and safe.

IT in my clinical setting is used for all of the above discussed. IT also includes "vocera", which is a realtime walkie-talkie type gadget that hangs around your neck and allows immediate communication with staff. This immediate communication mode is especially important in response to patient codes or staff/patient emergency needs. Patient charting and drug administration is moving to a computerized  tracking database. In our NICU unit, we have and "Acudose" machine to dispense narcotics for each specific patient ,which helps to reduce patient medication errors and tracks narcotic waste and dosage checks with another staff member per protocol. Computerized technology is the way of the future in medicine.

My first post

My name is Tanjula,

I am in the DNP program. I am an R.N. currently at Primary Children's Hospital.

I look forward to learning with everyone this Spring Semester2011.