Mobile computing--including both handhelds and tablet PCs--is proving to be a panacea to all three of these problems because:

1. Caregivers are more likely to enter data at the point and time of care when they have a mobile device. Data entry can occur any time and anywhere, without incurring delays.

2. Caregivers have complete access to all patient data. They're immediately tapped into the patient's lab reports, test results, prescription history, allergies, health history, care plan, vitals, and other caregivers' notes. The handheld device is the caregiver's mobile portal into all hospital functions. Caregivers are more productive and have more time to spend with patients. And this leads to more revenue.

3. Caregiver data is captured only once and only in electronic form. Data is validated upon entry. The problems of reading a physician's handwriting or making a data entry mistake are totally avoided. Medical errors are reduced, and so is associated liability and risk.

First, caregivers are more likely to enter data at the point and time of care when they have a mobile device. Data entry can occur any time and anywhere, without incurring delays.

Second, caregivers have complete access to all patient data. They're immediately tapped into the patient's lab reports, test results, prescription history, allergies, health history, care plan, vitals, and other caregivers' notes. The handheld device is the caregiver's mobile portal into all hospital functions. Caregivers are more productive and have more time to spend with patients. And this leads to more revenue.

Finally, caregiver data is captured only once, and only in electronic form. Data is validated upon entry. The problems of reading a physician's handwriting or making a data entry mistake are totally avoided. Medical errors are reduced, and so is associated liability and risk.

Mobile rounding
Ok, so now you can totally relate to this mobile solution. Let me set the scene. You're at your physician's office. You see the wall of paper. You witness the clip charts and the manila folders--one with your name on it. You're feeling like a needle in a haystack.

You sit patiently while your test results are fetched. You may even be wondering just how the office keeps it all straight. Later, you may even find yourself spending time with your healthcare insurance company trying to clear up erroneous charges for services and procedures that you can't ever remember having been administered.

Mobile rounding brings the medical chart, and every functional group within the affiliated hospital, to the handheld device. Mobile solutions, like Mercury MD Mdata, are the next generation information technology that will transform the business processes of hospitals, clinics, and physician groups. Caregivers literally wirelessly tap into all the existing information infrastructure of the hospital, giving them faster access to the information they need to treat their patients.

The net bottom-line result is improved clinical workflow and caregiver efficiency. More patients are treated and the rate of medical error is reduced.