HANDHELDS
Convergence: What is the Ideal Wireless Handheld for the Medical Professional?
I remember talking with an investment banker who needed some advice about a project using Microsoft's database program, Access. I could sense his anxiety in anticipation of a major presentation days away. When we finally got down to talking about what needed to be accomplished, it was hard to get an answer, but he said he wanted it done in Access, "because Access can do anything." My usual strategy in working on a project such as this, was to use whatever software works best for solving each problem involved. The job is done in an inelegant way, but there's safety and stability in NOT using a piece of software to do things it doesn't do optimally. You can also extend this to hardware. The prime directive in my mind when it comes to the use of digital technology is: FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS, NOT THE TOOL. It's ironic that the current culture of tech/business uses the word "solution" to describe a certain technology without a description of the problems it addresses. "Ours is the number one "wireless-networking solution" might be one cant. Because of the interest, and deservedly so, in ROI, a technology provider will attempt to increase the number of features its product can claim in order to expand the universe of problems its widget can conceivably solve. This includes the handheld you want to buy.
So, what does this handheld look like? For me, I can visualize it right now. It's big enough just to fit comfortably in pocket of a lab coat. This would roughly give it the dimensions of 4-1/4" x 6-1/4." It would have voice recognition, handwriting recognition, digital voice recording, Bluetooth, wi-fi, a CF slot, and a "thumb-keyboard." It would work well as a speaker phone. For privacy or noisy conditions, I'd use a wireless headset. Essentially, it is a cross between a Treo and a tablet pc. I'd like to have the rubber grips seen on Dell's Axim, and you could occasionally drop the unit from a modest height, e.g. from night table to floor, and it would still work. And to really push the envelope, it would accept a module that would attach to the back, which would provide extra battery power (defibrillator?, just kidding) and ECG/Pulse Ox unit. Digital camera? I think this would pushing for too much from this handhheld wünderkind, given what I would have to give up by not using a separate, small digital camera. (more to come on this topic...)
Why Not Include a Digital Camera?
Here is Alan Reiter's take on ways in which some misunderstanding can develop regarding how features are marketed. It gets very difficult for the consumer to ascertain how well certain features work when trying to weigh the advantages/disadvantages of the everything-in-one handheld. Confusion already over certain terms. What is a "smartphone?" Why do some providers call their cellular networks 3G (and you know who you are), when they're not.
 Harrison's on Hand
This is the latest version of the McGraw-Hill's Harrison's On Hand suite of medical reference software for the PDA. I'm doing a review on my web site. Also in process, reviews of three other titles in the McGraw-Hill Mobile Consult series: Current DxTx Ready Reference Tables, Essentials of Diagnosis & Treatment, and Cardiology at a Glance. Soon the days of lab coat pocket-ripping books of various sizes will go the way of that reflector thing that doctors used to wear (according to the clip art I have seen, which is always a reliable historical source) with a band around the head. I even think that the PC will soon be an anachronism on the wards, what with the common practice of conveniently scribbling the password to the HIS on the monitor. HIPAA becomes a key element in how technology will be adapted and adopted when it touches patient information. (Fortunately, PDA reference "books" don't fall into the realm of HIPAA)
Will Wi-Fi lower nurses' blood pressure?
This headline is light-heartedly written, but nevertheless acknowledges the nursing shortage crisis in this country, and how technology might be able to begin to relieve some of the burden. The author interviews Jeff Lett, senior director of technical operations at Tenet Healthcare. "When Tenet Healthcare asked nurses what would make life easier, 'the nurses came back and said wireless phones,' Lett said. The story also reports Tenet will spend "$4 million on Wi-Fi equipment and has already installed systems in 78 of its 119 hospitals."
The American Medical Informatics Assoc. does have a Nursing Informatics working group, and it could be very productive to survey its members to identify what type of wireless implementation would best suit their needs.
Wi-Fi Communications Badge
Here's an interesting implementation of wi-fi in Australia ala StarTrek. "Picard to Enterprise: 802.11b Badges Carry Voice," describes Vocera Communication's product.
5:47:38 AM 
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