[veetach]

This topic has probably already been discussed, and for those of you who have been members here for a long time, I apologize for repeating the topic. I am wondering though, how many of you are allowed to practice using protocols in the ED?

I am talking about chest pain or respiratory or abdominal pain protocols, etc. Our hospital is going to start using them in the spring, with the go live of a new computer program.

I am wondering how many of you already do this.

[missmercy]

We have begun the process of implementing smoe protocols in our ED just recently. Will be using chest pain r/o MI, Angina, Pneumonia and a couple of others within the next 6 weeks. We have computerized charting, but not orderentry -- so we are trying to figure out how to document our progress on the protocol ( pathway-like) without double charting. ER docs love the idea, the ER nurses -- are open to giving it a try. Our gen Docs.... don't even like suggestions, so am interested in seeing how they react when theses protocols are instituted on their units!!

[veetach]

Originally Posted by missmercy

We have begun the process of implementing smoe protocols in our ED just recently. Will be using chest pain r/o MI, Angina, Pneumonia and a couple of others within the next 6 weeks. We have computerized charting, but not orderentry -- so we are trying to figure out how to document our progress on the protocol ( pathway-like) without double charting. ER docs love the idea, the ER nurses -- are open to giving it a try. Our gen Docs.... don't even like suggestions, so am interested in seeing how they react when theses protocols are instituted on their units!!

This sounds great! Our ER docs are not particularly excited, because they will be giving up that little bit of power, I guess. But they have no choice. What computer system are you using?

[Sarah, RNBScN]

We have advanced medical directives in place for COPD carepath, chest pain, migraine's, etc...and a bunch more. I can scan them and email if your interested. Awhile back, I had snail mailed a copy to someone on line and it would be costly. Let me know what your specifically interested in.

Sarah

[Dixielee]

Veetach, what computer system will you be using? We started using Amelior last month in the ER and it was a disaster. We all hated it, it finally crashed one night and has been gone several weeks now, and we are so happy! Just wondering if you know of a "good" computer system.

[needsmore$]

We use Codonix-computer system (we've used it since 1998). we have order sets programed in- (they were made up by the ED docs). We go under "ENTER ORDERS"- then click on problem based orders- like ABD pain, Chest PAIN, Asthma, etc. The order screen pops up with everything from "cardiac monitor" to O2 to specific labs to be drawn. This really improves our throughput times. we use protocols forextremity xrays directly from triage prior to going to fast track as wellAnne

[veetach]

Originally Posted by Dixielee

Veetach, what computer system will you be using? We started using Amelior last month in the ER and it was a disaster. We all hated it, it finally crashed one night and has been gone several weeks now, and we are so happy! Just wondering if you know of a "good" computer system.

We are live on Meditech hospital-wide. I am on the implementation team for the new ED module, called "EDM". It is working well so far, we are set up for a 3 phase go live, and we have just started with the plasma screen tracker.

We go live with nursing documentation in the spring and physician documentation closely follows.

their website is

www.meditech.com

My current employer is the 2nd hospital that I have worked in with Meditech. My former employer has been on the system hospital wide for 6 years now and they LOVE it.

[tiredfeetED]

We have meditech set up in the ED for over a year..with comps in everyroom but we have not used them due to new management who is now leaving and tons of new staff...we are shooting for the spring...Ive been trained twice on them..and each time we decide not to use it!

[veetach]

Originally Posted by tiredfeetED

We have meditech set up in the ED for over a year..with comps in everyroom but we have not used them due to new management who is now leaving and tons of new staff...we are shooting for the spring...Ive been trained twice on them..and each time we decide not to use it!

what a shame!! I love the system. Our EDM was actually tested at Queen of the valley Hospital in West Covina (I think) California. They remain the Beta site for the new programs.

We are nearing the end of a large remodel and have purchased SpaceLab monitors for our exam rooms, and SpaceLab has the capability to interface with Meditech so that we can have both desktops available on the same monitor at every bedside. I am anxious to see how well it works.....

[traumaRUs]

We use EMSTAT in our level one trauma center (63k visits/year) and love it. We have protocols also which the nursing staff implements for CP, abd pain (male/female), lacerations, injuries (xrays), etc. It works very well and the docs love it!