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Jan 16, 2008 6:19 pm US/Eastern
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'Smart Rooms' Designed To Change Patient Care
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
One local hospital has a pilot project that health officials say is designed to change the face of patient care.
Experts say the 'Smart Room' is still in the stages of early development, but UPMC Shadyside has the project underway. And it's putting information at the bedside where doctors and patients can see it together.
The computerized 'Smart Room' is a first in the nation, and officials with UPMC Shadyside say they have six rooms outfitted this way with the goal of keeping patients safe and happy, and making work more efficient.
Experts say when staff members walk in; their special badges beam their names onto a monitor the patients can see.
At first, a separate patient information screen is blank, but with permission - blood pressure, medication lists, blood test results, and other important information can be called up.
"It forces physicians to spend more time with their patients," says Dr. Shuja Hassan.
At $3000 a room for the hardware, usually the 'Smart Room' system works, but it is still learning.
"So we're looking at the problems and the things we bump into now as part of the development life cycle. So that's fine," says David Sharbaugh. "We expected that, we wanted that, that's how we can make the product better."
Officials say there are back-up charts in the computer and at the nurses' station.
Experts say some upgrades that they expect to add in the coming months include bigger screens, an improved weather forecast, and a way for patients to interact with the system to find out what to expect when they go for medical tests.
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