New technology which could help healthcare staff increase the number of patient visits and time in the community by up to 50%* has been launched by Airwave, the UK’s leading critical communications provider.
Community Carer allows healthcare staff to use a handheld PDA (personal digital assistant) to access and update patient records as well as complete standard forms while away from their desks. Not only does this improve patient safety and reduce the risk of clinical errors, but it also promotes information exchange among healthcare staff and frees up more time to spend with patients .
Its built-in scheduling tool ensures continuity of care by helping staff plan visits and treatment programmes, and automated collation and analysis of patient data provides online access to reports, supporting fast and accurate decision-making. Standard forms can be customised to match an organisation’s current processes, helping healthcare staff to work more efficiently wherever they are.
Secure and encrypted to NHS standards, Community Carer runs on a discreet hand-held device with easy-to-use forms. It can also combine a mobile phone and incorporate other useful tools such as email, satellite navigation and telephony so healthcare workers need carry only one device.
David Sangster, head of Airwave’s health division, said: “Community Carer is a unique mobile information solution designed by clinicians for community healthcare staff. It transforms community services by replacing existing paper-based processes for handling patient data and increasing the number of patient visits and time in the community by up to 50%*.”
*Actual improvement will depend on the location in which the solution is deployed, and the functionality. Over the air synchronization is required to maximize improvements in productivity.