The growing use of tablets, laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices in every segment of healthcare delivery and administration promises to have sweeping effects. These point-of-care technologies have the potential to drastically lower costs, improve outcomes, and alleviate administrative burdens.
But in order to implement these technologies in a way that complies with regulations, respects patient privacy, improves the quality of care, and serves the needs of the user, it’s essential to abide by a set of best practices. Stakeholders throughout the field of healthcare are currently working to define these best practices, but they have already defined several broad categories to focus on with electronic health records (EHR).
Security and Privacy
Most of the information contained on mobile healthcare devices is sensitive and private. That’s why ensuring the security of this data on all devices, and in every instance of transmission, is so important. Users must also make a concerted effort to ensure that these devices are not stolen or lost.
Regulatory Compliance
Regulations like HIPPA and governing bodies like the Department of Health and Human Services directly affect the way that mobile healthcare devices are used. Any application or device that collects, stores or shares personally identifiable health information for covered entities (physicians and hospitals) must be HIPPA-compliant. If the mandates of these regulations are not met, care providers can face stiff fines and penalties. Any set of best practices must ensure that the device is being used within the boundaries of the law and take steps to mitigate instances of non-compliance.
Sanitation
Since they are mobile, these devices necessarily pass between healthcare settings, and among different patients and care providers. That means an increase in the risk of spreading bacteria. If the potential of these devices is ever going to be realized, an extensive set of best practices must be developed to help keep them as safe and sterile as possible.
Interoperability
Ensuring interoperability has been a major stumbling block to the broader implementation of EHRs, and the issue is even more complicated in the case of mobile healthcare devices. Device manufacturers, health information management professionals, and the broader healthcare community must work together to ensure that the data generated and stored on these devices fits seamlessly into the broader IT infrastructure of healthcare.
User Education
Mobile devices are used by patients, care providers, and administrators, and in some cases the same device is used in different ways depending on who’s handling it. In order to make the most effective use of these devices, and to ensure that the best practices discussed above are followed, user education is essential and proper training for these different segments of employees will improve the quality of patient care.
If your organization is seeking to optimize mobile healthcare devices, find the consulting and recruiting help you need by contacting Resolute Technologies.