meditech

i work at two hospitals in central in. both use computer charting. at the smaller, more rural hospital, we use meditech. i like that it is more "all encompasing". all orders, assessments, results, etc. go into the same system. once you learn how to use it, you can retrieve information. unfortunatly, i work prn, and have never really figured it out. the info goes in, but is VERY difficult to locate again. very fractured. not user friendly. was a "cookie cutter program" not any flexibility.

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[PJM]

I also work in a rural hospital that uses Meditech. At present the only nursing on-line documentation that is done is the initial admission assessment, discharge needs assessment, swallowing impairment screen, vital signs/weights & discharge instructions. We have all the inpt. units (excluding inpt. mental health unit, the transitional care unit & ER on-line.

All of this information entered is retrievable in the PCI module (view patient record. Also hard copies are still being printed for the medical record.

I can understand your frustration regarding accessing the information. The Meditech system is not difficult to use - it just requires repetition. In the future - Meditech will be going to a Client server format which will be more like the windows operating system on a PC. At that time - it will make it much easier for the end user.

Was some type of staff education provided to you? What about written reference material? Are there are other staff members that work with you that could help?

[peck13]

there was education, but i found out that i was recieving it after working the previous night. i also work prn, so only use it rarely. the hospital was already using it when i arrived. there are lots of complaints, but no solutions (the head nurse was told that she WOULD use it and WOULD like the system). i am also spoiled by the system my other hospital uses. it is so user friendly that meditech pales in comparison.

[SLee]

What is the other system you used that you found user friendly? thanks.

Originally posted by peck13:

there was education, but i found out that i was recieving it after working the previous night. i also work prn, so only use it rarely. the hospital was already using it when i arrived. there are lots of complaints, but no solutions (the head nurse was told that she WOULD use it and WOULD like the system). i am also spoiled by the system my other hospital uses. it is so user friendly that meditech pales in comparison.