Title: Evaluating the feasibility of using tablets in emergency departments

Authors: Ela Israeli; Danit Ribak; Tsipi Heart

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O Box 105, Beer-Sheva, Israel ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O Box 105, Beer-Sheva, Israel ' Faculty of Business Administration, Ono Academic College, Tzahal 104, Kiriat Ono, Israel

Abstract: Stakeholders in public healthcare believe that meaningful use of electronic medical record (EMR) systems can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ED clinical processes. However, most EDs have not yet fully integrated EMRs into their medical processes at the patient's bedside. This article reports on a case study of a large busy ED in Israel using a throw-away mock-up tablet EMR to evaluate the feasibility of using tablets in the ED. It evaluated the attitude of ED physicians toward using a tablet at the patient's bedside and whether tablets use can increase the average number of patients seen by a physician per hour. The clinical staff had a generally positive attitude toward tablet use. Simulated tablet use at the patient's bedside showed that the average number of patients seen by a physician per hour increased from ~3.5 to ~6, i.e., > 70%.

Keywords: hospital emergency departments; tablet computers; electronic medical records; EMRs; technology adoption; process improvement; tablets; tablet PCs; healthcare technology; e-healthcare; electronic healthcare; Israel; accident and emergency departments; A&E; patient throughput.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2016.076488

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2016 Vol.16 No.2, pp.124 - 142

Received: 06 Jul 2015
Accepted: 12 Jul 2015
Published online: 10 May 2016 *

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