Tablet PCs for medical professionals
By Dr. Bill Crounse, M.D.
With the coming of age of electronic health records, robust clinical software and services, and faster, smarter devices, many physicians are beginning to incorporate mobile technology into their practices. The right device can provide quick access to critical patient information whenever and wherever it's needed. Doctors know that access to such information simply facilitates better patient care.
The question is: What is the right device for your practice? Most clinicians that I know want a tool that is intuitive to use, light and easy to carry, powerful enough to provide all the support they need, and, of course, completely reliable.
When first introduced to the market, computers powered by the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system didn't quite meet all of these tough standards. Some models were a little too cumbersome for carrying on rounds, battery life was short, and many users were frustrated by the original, somewhat quirky digital inking interface.
In the few short years since its debut, the Tablet PC has evolved into the premier mobile device for medical care. These devices have tremendous power, and they can translate handwritten notes—even my handwriting—to text instantly. Tablet PCs also include voice recognition software so you can dictate to the device or digitally record your voice for wireless transfer. And, because they are so light and compact, you can hold the Tablet PC in one hand, like a clipboard, while using the stylus to write on the screen with your other hand.
Because of their convenience and reliability, clinicians in hospitals and clinics throughout the United States and around the world are starting to employ the Tablet PC with great success.
Tablet PCs in practice
As the Tablet PC has improved, so has its capability to provide a healthy return on investment for medical practitioners. For starters, these fast, light devices give physicians the ability to access the patient information they need where and when they need it.
Such flexibility can significantly increase efficiency and improve patient care. The administrators at Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin proved this when they replaced paper-based medical charts with a Tablet PC-based EMR solution running on Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. "The flexibility and mobility of the Tablet PC-based system gives our physicians the ability to move between home wireless systems and hospital networks, and to easily negotiate access to other medical facilities," says Carl Christensen, chief information officer at the clinic. "Accessing patient records and other systems at the bedside and in the exam room allows us to provide better care, reduce errors, and save millions of dollars each year."
Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) found that they can streamline their processes, reduce clinician workloads, and improve patient care by deploying Tablet PCs to all their field clinicians. This large home healthcare organization needed a way to record and share patient information quickly, without the lag between the patient visit and an update in the record-keeping system.
With the Tablet PC, clinicians can now enter clinical data electronically while visiting patients. The benefits are numerous. "The Tablet PC solution allows us to enhance the compatibility between our back office, our field clinicians, and other patient care stakeholders," says Rick Stazesky, director of information services at VNSYNY. "This means we're able to increase the consistency of our care delivery across a diversified work force. Clinicians are no longer islands unto themselves but rather are interconnected."
Guidelines for selecting a Tablet PC
If you want to increase the efficiency of your practice, enhance communications, or just have a robust reference tool at your fingertips, the Tablet PC might be right for you. A number of manufacturers produce Tablet PC models powered by the Microsoft Windows XP Professional operating system. These models differ in size, processing speed, and design. Here are some guidelines to help you select the best model for your needs.
What design?
Tablet PCs are available in two basic designs: Convertible and slate. Convertible designs have built-in keyboards and are slightly heavier, whereas slates are slimmer and light weight. To decide what design you prefer, you need to think about how you are going to use the tool in your day-to-day work.
For instance, if you plan to do large amounts of typing and spend a lot of your time in your office, you might opt for a convertible model with a keyboard. On the other hand, if you spend most of your time on the move or in a clinical environment, then a slate might be the way to go. You can enter patient information with a stylus, using a format that closely resembles medical charts, except that this chart can hold the medical records for every patient in your clinic. Another bonus: Most slate models offer detachable keyboards, and some manufacturers offer keyboard extensions that link up by Bluetooth wireless technology.
How much storage space?
Most manufacturers offer hard drives that range from 20 to 80 gigabytes. My advice is to err on the side of excess and go with at least 60 gigabytes of storage. It doesn't cost that much more, and you know you'll always have the space when you need it. As you accumulate new medical software and reference materials, you'll be glad you made the investment.
What about the processor, itself?
Again, more is better. Processor speeds of Tablet PCs are impressive—most approach or surpass 1 GHz (gigahertz). It's best to plan on at least 1 GHz, especially if you plan to use graphics-intensive applications or rich speech-to-text applications for dictation.
And make sure you get enough memory to support all the activities you'll be performing simultaneously. The minimum is 256 megabytes, but I recommend doubling that to 512. Again, the cost difference should be relatively small, and the performance difference can be large. Best of all, get a device that can be upgraded with more memory if you need it to run even more powerful applications in the future.
How about battery life?
Battery life is much longer than it used to be, thanks to a new generation of processors built specifically to run mobile devices. Some manufacturers claim that you can run the Tablet PC for 7 or more hours with an optional lithium battery pack. And, if you know you'll routinely use your Tablet PC every day, all day, you can always purchase additional AC adapters. Place an adapter in each exam room, and you can plug in and out as you move from patient to patient.
What about size?
Some computer manufacturers have recently introduced some very light weight, compact models. An 8.4-inch display might be ideal for some medical professionals; others may prefer displays that are as big as 14.1 inches.
One last suggestion: Take your Tablet PC for a test drive before you buy. It's important to get a feel for the computer and determine if it's responsive and well built. Use the stylus to navigate and enter information to test how the computer recognizes your handwriting. Also, check to see how well you like the computer's capability to switch between landscape and portrait modes. In the portrait mode, it should feel like a traditional clipboard. It's about personal preference, so make sure your device is well-suited for you.
For more information about options and advice regarding how to select the right Tablet PC for you, visit the Microsoft Web site How to Buy a Tablet PC.
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