computers in the hospital

mario_ragucci · May 8, 2002

e-chart is God. Yewd be playing paper chase all day, without e-chart. How can you expect the health care facility NOT to use a database. I'm sorry :-(

MPHkatie · May 8, 2002

but it is a great time saver. When I worked ICU we had a JACHO approved restraint note, which you just clicked on and the beautiful note appeared explaining why pt needed restraints. It was about a paragraph long and covered it all. I loved that. I don't think our computer charting cut down on errors, there is still a way to chart on the wrong pt. And my fav- when the respiratory monitor is reading 0 or 204 and the pt is vented breathing a mere 16 imes s minute and the vitals automatically are entered and the nurse doesn't change them? A lot would have to be answered for when that sort of thing reads 0 for an entire shift, despite the pt having a sat of 99%, and a nice HR. Always lots of new and creative ways to cause charting errors.

micro, RN · May 8, 2002

can't wait till the whole system goes in where i am at.........

course i will be in remedial computer charting 101.......

it has proven out to be such a time saver in units that have it already.....

shannonRN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2002

the hospital i currently work at incorporates computers. charting isn't all computerized yet... we still have to write our narratives and assessments. but it works nicely for meds. it also has our md phone list, info-grams that you can send to any department, storeroom orders, as well as many others. overall, i give it a thumbs up!

CEN35 · May 9, 2002

i have no idea? never used computer charting? although they claim it's in the works.

me :)

mattsmom81 · May 9, 2002

I don't think it is that great....there's lots of problems with the computerized systems and they can be a nightmare of liability due to problems in the system.

Give me my trifold paper critical care flowsheet anyday! Like MPHKatie said, if it's hooked to monitors it records 'whatever' crazy artifact value it's picking up...so you have to go back, delete, and reenter all your values...also records the TIMES you enter the data which can be used by an attorney to show tampering or poor care if you enter late....

We disabled the auto monitor recording due to the above, but then we had to go in every 15 minutes and enter vitals, drug titration changes, etc.....we felt tied to the monitor!! One place, the docs complained so much about this ("The nurses always have their noses in the computers and don't have time for US") that we went back to paper. No complaints from the staff at all...LOL!

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · May 9, 2002

I'm not sure how applicable it would be where I am, in the ED. We use the computer to put in orders and to send a message to the admitting folks when we are admitting a patient but that's about it. There have been 2-3 times that we were supposed to pilot a computer charting program and it all fell through..no idea why. I would really rather them just give me a piece of paper and let me write down my assessment and what I do rather than check all the boxes that we do now.

Brownms46 · May 9, 2002

Originally posted by mattsmom81
I don't think it is that great....there's lots of problems with the computerized systems and they can be a nightmare of liability due to problems in the system.

Give me my trifold paper critical care flowsheet anyday! Like MPHKatie said, if it's hooked to monitors it records 'whatever' crazy artifact value it's picking up...so you have to go back, delete, and reenter all your values...also records the TIMES you enter the data which can be used by an attorney to show tampering or poor care if you enter late....

We disabled the auto monitor recording due to the above, but then we had to go in every 15 minutes and enter vitals, drug titration changes, etc.....we felt tied to the monitor!! One place, the docs complained so much about this ("The nurses always have their noses in the computers and don't have time for US") that we went back to paper. No complaints from the staff at all...LOL!

Geeze Whiz...two in a row..

I loved pc charting at Brooke Army Medical...except when the system was down... :eek: ! Very easy to use... :cool: . But another hospital in Seattle must have the worst program ever! I hated it...and only went there once! But still prefer pc charting. I also like the VA's pc charting. I guess it depends on the system being used.

thisnurse · May 10, 2002

i hated it at first because i felt like i couldnt say what i felt needed said, however, the more i used it the more i found the PLACES to say what i wanted to say.

what i dont like about it is when the system goes down (thats a nightmare) and not having enough computers. i avoid using the laptops cos i have fat fingers and the keys are way too small.

RNforLongTime · May 10, 2002

The hospital where I work at uses no computer charting whatsoever. Last hospital I worked at, we charted VS, I&O,ADL's, and meds into the computer as well as our Care Plans. THe ICU's at that hospital also had completely computerized charting for the unit. The nurses there did no manual charting whatsoever.