Mobile technology for hospitalists: Clinician perspectives and unmet needs from a workflow analysis (Preprint)

Clinician Perspectives on Unmet Needs for Mobile Technology Among Hospitalists: Workflow Analysis Based on Semistructured Interviews (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.28783 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

April Savoy ◽

Jason J Saleem ◽

Barry C Barker ◽

Himalaya Patel ◽

Areeba Kara

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Mobile Technology ◽

Nurse Practitioners ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Medical Center ◽

Mobile App ◽

Mobile Technologies ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Workflow Analysis ◽

Semistructured Interviews

BACKGROUND The hospitalist workday is cognitively demanding and dominated by activities away from patients’ bedsides. Although mobile technologies are offered as solutions, clinicians report lower expectations of mobile technology after actual use. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to better understand opportunities for integrating mobile technology and apps into hospitalists’ workflows. We aim to identify difficult tasks and contextual factors that introduce inefficiencies and characterize hospitalists’ perspectives on mobile technology and apps. METHODS We conducted a workflow analysis based on semistructured interviews. At a Midwestern US medical center, we recruited physicians and nurse practitioners from hospitalist and inpatient teaching teams and internal medicine residents. Interviews focused on tasks perceived as frequent, redundant, and difficult. Additionally, participants were asked to describe opportunities for mobile technology interventions. We analyzed contributing factors, impacted workflows, and mobile app ideas. RESULTS Over 3 months, we interviewed 12 hospitalists. Participants collectively identified chart reviews, orders, and documentation as the most frequent, redundant, and difficult tasks. Based on those tasks, the intake, discharge, and rounding workflows were characterized as difficult and inefficient. The difficulty was associated with a lack of access to electronic health records at the bedside. Contributing factors for inefficiencies were poor usability and inconsistent availability of health information technology combined with organizational policies. Participants thought mobile apps designed to improve team communications would be most beneficial. Based on our analysis, mobile apps focused on data entry and presentation supporting specific tasks should also be prioritized. CONCLUSIONS Based on our results, there are prioritized opportunities for mobile technology to decrease difficulty and increase the efficiency of hospitalists’ workflows. Mobile technology and task-specific mobile apps with enhanced usability could decrease overreliance on hospitalists’ memory and fragmentation of clinical tasks across locations. This study informs the design and implementation processes of future health information technologies to improve continuity in hospital-based medicine.

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AAC Decision-Making and Mobile Technology: Points to Ponder

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac23.2.104 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 104-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mary Ann Abbott ◽

Debby McBride

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Mobile Technology ◽

Communication System ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Evaluation Process ◽

Decision Making Process ◽

Alternative Communication ◽

Ipod Touch ◽

Feature Match

The purpose of this article is to outline a decision-making process and highlight which portions of the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) evaluation process deserve special attention when deciding which features are required for a communication system in order to provide optimal benefit for the user. The clinician then will be able to use a feature-match approach as part of the decision-making process to determine whether mobile technology or a dedicated device is the best choice for communication. The term mobile technology will be used to describe off-the-shelf, commercially available, tablet-style devices like an iPhone®, iPod Touch®, iPad®, and Android® or Windows® tablet.

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Word-Finding Support From Mobile Technology Benefits a Woman With Aphasia

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac24.1.26 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 26-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yvonne Gillette

Keyword(s):

Mobile Technology ◽

Clinical Education ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Feature Matching ◽

Mobile Technologies ◽

Alternative Communication ◽

Alternative Intervention ◽

Communication Assessment ◽

Word Finding ◽

Intervention Costs

Mobile technology provides a solution for individuals who require augmentative and alternative intervention. Principles of augmentative and alternative communication assessment and intervention, such as feature matching and the participation model, developed with dedicated speech-generating devices can be applied to these generic mobile technologies with success. This article presents a clinical review of an adult with aphasia who reached her goals for greater communicative participation through mobile technology. Details presented include device selection, sequence of intervention, and funding issues related to device purchase and intervention costs. Issues related to graduate student clinical education are addressed. The purpose of the article is to encourage clinicians to consider mobile technology when intervening with an individual diagnosed with mild receptive and moderate expressive aphasia featuring word-finding difficulties.

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Game Changer

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac20.1.17 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 17-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lateef McLeod

Keyword(s):

San Francisco ◽

Mobile Technology ◽

Technology Tools ◽

Communication Challenges ◽

Communication Needs ◽

Game Changer

Abstract Individuals with significant communication challenges need to communicate across many different venues. The author, from the perspective of an individual who uses AAC, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of both traditional AAC technologies and new mobile AAC technologies. He describes how access to AAC has allowed him to fulfill his dreams as a presenter and writer. He successfully manages a blog in San Francisco, writes grants, and has published his first book of poetry. Not one AAC device fits all of his communication needs; however, access to mobile technology tools has increased his flexibility across environments and given him another successful tool for communication.

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