Use of Instant Messaging on Clinical Units

[NIToday]

Does anyone work in a hospital that uses Instant Messaging on computers that are in patient care areas? If so, what do you use it for? Is it helpful? Any information about positive or negative experiences with Instant Messaging in Clinical Care areas would be appreciated!

Even if your hospital doesn't use instant messaging in clinical care areas, what is your opinion of this? Do you think it could be helpful at work?

Thank you.

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

Unless the instant messaging occurs on a device that is mobile and that the clinician has with them at all times I dont see the benefit.

Pagers, cell phones, Vocera would all allow for real-time broadcast or messaging communication and would be quicker.

Having pm or "instant messaging" functionality on a stationary PC or lap top would tie/restrict the clinician to one spot or to being at the device unless the actual device (the instand messaging function is on) is mobile.

Now we do have the ability to send an onscreen message to any device but the user has to actually be on this device to get it/read it.

This also would not be feasable on the shared PCs/devices at a nurses station if we are talking about IMs for an individual.

What is you are trying to do related to using instand messaging on a PC/device located in the clinical areas? What are you trying to achieve related to your query about instant messaging? Are the IMs all work/patient care related or do you mean staff receiving personel IMs?

Does anyone work in a hospital that uses Instant Messaging on computers that are in patient care areas? If so, what do you use it for? Is it helpful? Any information about positive or negative experiences with Instant Messaging in Clinical Care areas would be appreciated!

Even if your hospital doesn't use instant messaging in clinical care areas, what is your opinion of this? Do you think it could be helpful at work?

Thank you.

[NIToday]

Thanks much for your quick reply. This is being requested by another department in our facility, so I am trying to understand how others might use it on static workstations, as the value is not clear to me for some of the same reasons you mentioned. It is proposed that it will save clinicians time-- instead of paging or using the phone. Some nurse managers are concerned that it could be misused, ie, during an emergency situation.

I cannot find any evidence in the literature for use cases either.

Any other thoughts appreciated, and thanks again.