Mobility is a significant feature in healthcare profession. Clinical work requires physicians and nurses to maintain a fast communication and to coordinate with different individuals within wards, clinics, hospitals and offices. An updated information system is also a need in today’s nursing profession, where they can access data and other resources .
Desktop technology has allowed storage facilities, finding and retrieval of data, but they lack the benefits that mobile technology can provide to the individuals working in this profession. Prgomet, Georgious & Westbrook (2009) conducted a survey on the impact of mobile technology in medical work practices and patient care. They derived three benefits of hand-held technology such as quick response that allows physicians and nurses to identify patient needs; medication error prevention which provides physicians and nurses with point-of-care decision support; and data management and accessibility by letting physicians access up-to-date information. When the results of the survey were assessed, it was found that the hand-held technology promoted prompt treatment in emergency situations by sending early notifications. The study evaluated how mobile technology helped in prescribing medications safely. The study also compared the standard paper documentation with the electronic documentation done via mobile technology .
Moreover, when a research was done by Kenny, Park, Van-Neste Kenny and Burton (2010) on the efficacy of use of mobile technology in nursing practice and education, it was concluded that it was feasible and desirable to implement the mobile technology in nursing practice and education. However, they thought that the use of mobile technology must be fully integrated into the curriculum in order to obtain effective results .
References
Kenny, R., Park, C., Van-Neste Kenny, J., & Burton, P. (2010, August 13). Mobile Self Efficacy in Canadian Nursing Education Programs. Retrieved from http://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/2767
Prgomet, M., Georgiou, A., & Westbrook, J. (2009). The Impact of Mobile Handheld Technology on Hospital Physicians' Work Practices and Patient Care: A Systematic Review. Journal of American Medical Informatics Association, 792-801.
