Electronic system impacts patients and providers
Wednesday November 21, 2007 -- Jason Thompson
An electronic patient tracking system implemented in the emergency department at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is not only helping to safeguard patient privacy, it’s also increasing efficiency for front-line workers.

Working in conjunction with Northumberland Hills Hospital, a fellow Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC) subscriber, PRHC launched their electronic patient tracking system Oct. 23.

Upon arrival at the hospital, patients will present their symptoms to a triage nurse who will record the information electronically rather than on a paper chart. Since patients are tracked electronically as they make their way through the emergency department, there is no longer a need to scribe their names on a white board at the nursing station.

Judita Szilagyi, a registered nurse and project lead for the electronic patient tracking system in the emergency department at PRHC, says the new system improves patient privacy and confidentiality.

“Not having the patient’s name displayed on the white board where visitors and families can see, that’s a big improvement,” she says.

Since patients are now tracked electronically, not only does the system improve patient confidentiality, it’s more efficient for front-line staff because patient information is accessible through any computer terminal in the emergency department.

Szilagyi says this makes it easier for staff to keep tabs on where patients are at in the system. Doctors and nurses are also alerted by the system when lab results or diagnostic tests are complete.

“At the click of a mouse they can view the results, instead of going to a printer and looking for the paper results,” Szilagyi says.

Although it’s difficult to measure the impact the new system has made since it’s still in an early phase of implementation, Szilagyi says feedback from staff has been positive, with many people commenting on how the system has made their jobs easier.

Szilagyi says there’s still some data that needs to be entered into the system but from a viewing and accessibility standpoint, the system is definitely an upgrade over what was previously in place.

“The staff and the physicians in the emergency department have supported this change and accepted the change very well.”

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