Having covered a broad range of healthcare technologies as a B2B journalist since the mid-1990s—most recently as Editor of MobileHealthWatch.com—I was excited to receive an invitation to help build the HealthcareGoesMobile online community. As far as I'm concerned, and in simplest terms, mobile point-of-care is the place to be right now. While mobile technology in the broader sense is, of course, interesting in its own right, entrenching myself in the healthcare space as the industry defines, comes to terms with, and streamlines its application of mobile technologies puts me in a front row seat for what I'm convinced will be one of the greatest thrill rides in our nation's history: the updating and transformation of our healthcare system.
IT—increasingly, mobile health IT—is the engine driving this train, and the conductors are none other than the healthcare providers, IT professionals and administrators that HealthcareGoesMobile will pull together as a collective resource, a shared knowledge base aimed at helping to guide industry professionals past the obstacles that lie ahead. Since part of my job entails making sure HealthcareGoesMobile succeeds first and foremost as a resource of the community, by the community and for the community, I will be reaching out regularly to solicit input and feedback that best serves our members. Toward that end, I encourage all members to take an active role in responding, commenting, sharing, or submitting content that would be directly beneficial to your peers.
Case in point: we all know mobile technology can help us work smarter, increase accuracy and reduce costs. We also know that life never throws the straight fastball; curveballs are the norm, especially when it comes to IT initiatives. Because I'm always interested in a good "logistical workaround" story—and because my new friend Karen Henz, RD, MS, Senior Systems Analyst for Information Services (IT) at University of Colorado Hospital thought to drop me a line—I was able to get the skinny on how she managed changes that were required when UCH moved into their new, 410-bed facility. The Aurora, Colo.-based hospital had been using mobile computers for clinical documentation for more than eight years. Shortly after the re-location in July 2007, it became apparent that the established model—one computer on a wheeled cart for each on-duty medical-surgical staff nurse—would need adjustment. Karen brought me up to speed on how UCH addressed the issue, marrying nurses' needs for ease-of-use features with IT's desire to customize the equipment from the standard model. You can read more about UCH's experience here
Obviously, Karen's story is one specific example of shared knowledge that could benefit any healthcare IT professional facing a similar situation. Now, imagine what a treasure trove of useful information could be exchanged in this forum if healthcare providers, IT professionals and administrators from coast to coast started weighing in with their own experiences, advice, recommendations and feedback.
Like the healthcare system that is to come, this community will be what we make of it. I look forward to getting to know you better.
