As with many new technologies, the question of improved efficacy and efficiency is often overlooked or simply assumed when it comes to the increasing use of personal digital assistants (PDAs). Now, a small US study has determined that these small hand-held devices can help improve the delivery of medical care.
The study was conducted by Dr. David Rich, a pediatric resident at the Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio (www.childrenscolumbus.org). Results were presented last spring at the 2001 annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies.
“Living in the information age, it only makes sense that physicians take advantage of the current technology to increase their efficiency and devote more time to direct patient care,” says Rich.
His study subjects were 19 interns who arrived at the hospital for the 2000/2001 year. Each was equipped with a Palm Vx and trained in its use. Each device came with a number of standard programs, including PatientKeeper (www.patientkeeper.com) and Pedsdrugs (www.skyscape.com). After 3 months, the interns were surveyed to see how they were actually using their PDAs. Results were encouraging: almost half (47%) of respondents reported that tracking patients on their PDAs was more useful than existing methods.
Members of this cohort logged many more procedures using their PDAs than interns from the 2 previous years — 187, compared with 94 and 128. And nearly half of the participating interns said PDA training would have positively influenced their choice of residency programs. The hospital has responded by expanding the use of PDAs to its entire residency program.
Although this study is only a preliminary look at the ways PDAs are being used, Rich sees great promise in their future potential. As the capabilities of PDAs expand and their use increases, he foresees physicians being able to receive information from the hospital's lab and patient information systems and to transmit their orders — all from the patient's bedside.
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Michael OReilly
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