Mini-Computers Provide Maximum Benefit to Patients in Trauma Center
May 2001 — Patients admitted to Memorial Regional Hospital's Trauma Center are cared for by some of the top trauma physicians in the country. These physicians must routinely make life-and-death treatment decisions. Twelve to 14 members of the trauma team may be involved in a single patient's care, including other surgeons and medical specialists.
In order to ensure that the trauma physicians' orders are crystal clear, all patient data and treatment instructions are now entered on hand-held computers. The system has reduced the time it takes to coordinate all the help patients need and has eliminated errors caused by illegible handwriting, says Lawrence Lottenberg, M.D., Director of Trauma Services and developer of the PocketChart - Trauma Edition™.
"Instead of a handwritten note that can't be read or is incomplete, the patient's history and physical exam information are entered into a hand-held computer within 5 minutes of the patient's arrival in the ER. Notes on each procedure are entered and care plans customized. As a result, it is less likely that there will be errors in medications or treatments," Dr. Lottenberg explains. "The entire team of physicians has a timely, legible note to read so everyone stays on track together to move patient care along as quickly and accurately as possible."
Point-of-care data entry has an additional benefit: It provides the coding, billing and justification documentation required by Medicare and other insurance carriers for reimbursement.
The Pocket Chart system has been so successful that Dr. Lottenberg is now showing Memorial physicians in other specialties how their patients might benefit from point-of-care data entry.