My love of these little Apple Devices started about 4 years
ago…..The first time I saw our software, Aperum, on an iPad I was hooked –
mobilizing our software allowed it to be utilized at the point of care. The ipad is so simple to use – it’s cute –
it’s trendy – dare I say sexy. In the past 4 years, I have purchased dozens of
“i” products. (Especially after I met
the REQUIRED otterbox – nothing breaks like an iphone.) As we have grown, we have made lots of trips
to the AT&T store to buy new iPads for our people. On one such trip, Kristal (our VP) and I were
waiting on the salesman to retrieve our next iPad when she asked about the
Samsung that David just purchased. I
teased – I joked – but by the time our sales guy got back with the tablet we
were logged into Aperum and playing with it on the Samsung. Then….it happened….he began to run us thru
features…I drooled…. These were things we only dreamed about on the Apple.
Here is what I love and why I eventually bought a Phablet….
1)
The built in Stylus….I admit I thought this is
really useless and will never be used.
I use it all the time – it automatically unlocks the device when removed
from its safe little corner home. It
makes selecting and typing a breeze.
2)
Typing….using the slide function where instead
of typing you slide the stylus across a series of letters. Frankly, it looks like magic that it knows
what word to select. It’s super simple
and quick.
3)
Writing…there is a function on the tablet where
you can write with the stylus. I will
admit the first few times it wrote some words…. maybe it was just me getting
used to it but it seemed to learn my handwriting the more I used it. It became more accurate as time went on. Which
was good because I had a really embarrassing demo when it translated what I
wrote into a swear word…
4)
Voice Recording…yes…it works…it’s cool. Again,
use it a few times before you demonstrate it….
Here is what I find troubling…..we talk to dozens of
hospitals a month and it is a rare event that the clinical staff is enabled
with a tablet or even a smart phone. I
am not even just talking about floor nurses – I am talking clinical
leadership.
When we show our software and how easy it is to use at the
bedside… we have nurse managers asking their CNO if they can bring in their own
tablet to use. Why? It’s not only because they see the value of
automation in their leadership rounding process using Aperum. Frankly, they see the value of smart devices –
it is not uncommon for nurses carry their personal smart phones in the pockets
so they can use aps that help them do their jobs.
So, what is holding hospitals back? Budgets? Device
Selection? Device Management? “Ap” Selection / Deployment?
Here are some quicks Do’s and Don’ts:
·
Don’t Buy a Tablet for one application. (unless
it’s ours.. J) The hospital should create a team to research
and understand the usability for different applications in their hospital. Different teams need different applications. These applications should show value in
safety and satisfaction.
·
Do identify application that align with the
hospital’s care models and strategies to enable safer and more satisfying
patient care.
·
Do identify a mobile device management platform
that meets your needs.
·
Do engage IT…. I know it sounds silly to say,
but there have been times when we come to hospitals and the IT department is
avoided by the clinical department (which is a blog all in itself)
·
Do buy cases….a serious cases like Otter
Boxes. Make sure you engage your
infection control team to identify how these devices will be cleaned. We have tested all sorts of cases….ones with
built in keypads, zipper fronts, plush, and flashy – some of our hospitals
launch their tablets naked….let’s just say mistakes were made….
·
Do understand that they are practically
disposable….did I say that outloud? Yes, just like your “purpose driven”
wireless phones that nurses carry.
Either buy the replacement plans for them or have a budget allocated for
replacements.
·
Do buy a nice tablet….I have the war wounds on
this one…cheap tablets stink in a hospital setting. Spend the money get a name brand.
We are going to be testing Aperum in some live environments
with different tools in the coming weeks.
We have hospitals looking at the Surface and others looking at the new
Spectralink Smart Phone – it’s fun to be vendor neutral and get to play with
all sorts of different toys…I mean tools. J I will update you all on what we identify as
positives and negatives.
Are you a Nurse or Nurse Leader?
Want to win a FREE Samsung Galaxy Tablet?
1) Like our Facebook Page
2) Share the Update with this Blog Post
3) Post a comment below about how your hospital uses tablets or smart phones.
Are you a Nurse or Nurse Leader?
Want to win a FREE Samsung Galaxy Tablet?
1) Like our Facebook Page
2) Share the Update with this Blog Post
3) Post a comment below about how your hospital uses tablets or smart phones.
