Tablet PCs offer an opportunity for the healthcare community to reap a number of benefits for patients, providers and insurers. Below is an overview of just three of the ways that tablets can help.

Intel and Motion Computing have joined forces to develop a platform for nurses and doctors called the Mobile Clinical Assistant.  This device, being developed by Motion Computing for release in the first half of 2007, will have a number of unique features geared specifically for use in the healthcare environment.

Read Intel's press release about the Mobile Clincial Assistant.

Improved patient safety – 5 rights

Using the pen and tablet along with devices such as barcode scanners allows nurses to ensure that the right patient receives the right drug at the right time in the right dosage and by the right route. Existing systems combine a tablet PC with a med dispensing cart and a scanner that helps hospitals drastically reduce errors in med administration.

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Many software packages already exist that help physician practices deliver better care to their customers. These systems keep all the information about a patient in a single electronic record that is accessible to physicians, nurses, medical technicians and billing staff. Using a tablet PC increases the efficiency of these systems by allowing staff to immediately record medicines, medical history, allergies and notes in their own handwriting which is translated into typed text and placed in the record.

Forms, forms, forms

From the time a patient walks into a facility until they leave with discharge instructions, healthcare is one piece of paperwork after another. Tablet PCs can’t eliminate the need for these forms, but they do help automate the process by allowing the creation of a complete electronic health record. Ink enabled software that allows patients to fill in recent updates in their medical history can be filled in while in the waiting room, thus shortening the time needed to update this information when they are seen by the nurse or doctor.