Mobile Clinical Assistant

Research-based design to optimize patient care and clinical workflows

The mobile clinical assistant (MCA) is a fresh design developed after extensive research to identify clinician needs that are not met by general-purpose laptop computers. The MCA reference architecture focuses specifically on enabling improvements in patient care features and fitting them into clinician workflows. Along with appropriate software, the MCA makes a convenient, consolidated view of a patient's clinical data securely available to authorized care providers when and where they need it to improve care and enhance productivity.

By enabling more informed and immediate decisions at the point of care, the MCA can help reduce medication dispensing errors and ease clinical work loads. By enabling nurses and doctors to chart and check information at the bedside, it allows them to spend more time with patients, deepening observations and empathy.

Designed for the clinical environment

The mobile clinical assistant is built for the rigors of the clinical environment, whether that is a ward, clinic, or emergency room. Adapations for the clinical environment include:

• A lightweight, clipboard-like mobile PC with an ergonomic handle is easy for clinicians to carry and use it throughout their shift
• A rugged design makes the unit tolerant to drips and spills
• The casing can be wiped clean with disinfectant to reduce the spread of germs as nurses and physicians move among patients
• The ability to switch to a new battery pack without shutting the unit down supports shift-long use
• A generous screen display minimizes scrolling and eye strain

Built to optimize workflow

To streamline medication administration and charting, the MCA reference design integrates technologies that support "five rights" of medication administration and can provide for more streamlined and efficient workflows.

• With a built-in bar-code scanner, the MCA becomes a practical tool for matching each patient with the treatment being delivered, helping reduce medication-dispensing errors.
• Using a radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner in the MCA reference design, nurses can identify patients and verify themselves as authorized caregivers.

Integrated features for clinical data capture

The MCA design supports integration of a digital camera, to enable quicker and more detailed documentation of wounds, surgical sites, range of motion, and other items. Photos can be stored directly into the patient's electronic medical record (EMR), enhancing documentation and collaboration.

Built-in support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth* technology facilitate connection to wireless area networks and enable integration of technologies to automatically upload patient vital signs and other data into the EMR.