EHR Simulation

I am in pursuit of an open EHR that nursing programs can use to build simulations.  I have explored proprietary EHRs for simulation and am not impressed (hope that I don't hurt anyone's feelings).  Nursing programs need something simple and easy to use.  Last weekend, a colleague sent me a couple of files from the QSEN 2010 conference and one was a presentation about an EHR simulation using an Excel workbook! The tabs at the bottom of the workbook provide views of different EHR windows.

I contacted the author, Debra Filer, and she has graciously given permission for me to use in this blog. I am including a screenshot below.  In the meantime, I am still looking for open EHR models.  I downloaded one that was developed for a rural world clinic, but have not gotten it to work correctly.  

Teacher Training Videos and Glogster

I had a few moments to explore a website developed by Russell Stannard, Teacher Training Videos at http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/

He has a wealth of information available for teachers and has developed short video tutorials for the resources he discusses.  One that I viewed was about Glogster.  Glogster (http://www.glogster.com/) allows us to create interactive posters that include video and audio.  A teacher can have a free account that will accommodate 50 students. Glogster is a social networking tool because the posters can be shared and  rated. It is an interesting teaching tool and certainly one worth exploring.

I can envision using Glogster to create an interactive concept map.  I thought of concepts maps after reviewing a QSEN (Quality and Safety Education for Nurses) presentation, Advanced Practice Nursing

Education: Teaching QSEN Informatics and Teamwork Competencies, where DNP students used concept maps to depict the electronic health record (EHR). The PDF presentation is online at http://www.qsen.org/docs/2011_conference/QSEN_2011_Warren.pdf

Transforming Care at the Bedside

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) started the initiative that was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Transforming Care at the Bedside, in 2003.  The IHI has a number of excellent tools to improve care outcomes at http://www.ihi.org/offerings/Initiatives/PastStrategicInitiatives/TCAB/Pages/Materials.aspx

Examples include:

• Transforming Care at the Bedside How-to Guide: Creating an Ideal Transition Home for Patients with Heart Failure
• Transforming Care at the Bedside How-to Guide: Developing Front-Line Nursing Managers to Lead Innovation and Improvement
• Transforming Care at the Bedside How-to Guide: Engaging Front-Line Staff in Innovation and Quality Improvement
• Transforming Care at the Bedside How-to Guide: Increasing Nurses' Time in Direct Patient Care
• Transforming Care at the Bedside How-to Guide: Optimizing Communication and Teamwork
• Transforming Care at the Bedside How-to Guide: Reducing Patient Injuries from Falls
• Transforming Care at the Bedside How-to Guide: Spreading Innovations to Improve Care on Medical and Surgical Units

  
  
  

Projector Integration Innovation for Apple Devices

Tracy sent me a link to an article that describes plans to integrate a projector into Apple devices like iPhones and iPads.  The link is at http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/08/apples-plans-for-projector-integration-are-groundbreaking-exciting-possibly-ready-to-go

What is even more innovative about this function is that it would allow gesturing.  Very interesting.

Now, just in case you might not know it, you can project using an iPhone or iPad, but it takes a separate device (the size of a deck of cards and weighing about 4 ounces).  Examples include:

• Optoma Pico PK101 Projector [PK101] - about $179
• MicroVision SHOWWX+ Laser Pocket Projector - about $294

It is clear that our nursing grad students are going to give me a workout this fall semester as they explore innovations that can be used in the healthcare setting with their iPads.  Can't wait!

Teaching with an iPad

Tracy, emailed me an article about teaching an online course with an iPad.  The instructor was teaching a course entitled Technology and Innovation Management.  The article is online at

http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416180327&o=int&prev=si&p=69

I use many of the apps shared in the article including Dropbox and Evernote.  I plan to use the iPad for myself and students in one of my graduate informatics courses this fall.  We will have to explore some of the apps described in the article over the next few weeks.  Perhaps the experience will be something that the students want to write about (for publication) in NRSG 6724. Hint, Hint...

It is an excellent read! I especially enjoyed the lessons learned section of the article.

iPad EHR - Meaningful Use Certification

An iPad EHR, drchrono EHR, received meaningful use certification!  It is designed for ambulatory care settings.  What is even more interesting is that it is free.  It is definately an app that I want students to explore in the two graduate informatics courses that I am teaching this fall!  It certainly may be perfect for our undergraduate nursing program clinical lab settings and nurse practitioner students.

Read more about the EHR at https://drchrono.com/ipad_ehr/

Features include:

• Real time clinical speech-to-text on the iPad
• Custom workflows and the ability to integrate photos and videos into a patient chart
• Integrated electronic medical billing
• Electronic prescribing to send prescriptions to any pharmacy in the U.S.
• A streamlined user interface that allow doctors to complete their clinical notes before the patient leaves the exam room

 

QR Codes and Education

Martha shared an idea on how Layfayette University library is using QR codes.  The library developed a game, Where in the Library is Carmen Sandiego?: An Interactive Library Mystery Game. Read more at http://calendar.lafayette.edu/node/121.  Essentially, it is a game that also allows the students to become oriented to the library.  Martha and Erin discussed using the idea with the freshman seminar.

Another idea is to have students in the freshman seminar interview the different librarians responsible for library sections, write up a short descriptions, and create QR codes that would be posted in the library. 

Some websites with more information about QR codes are:

• 40 Interesting Ways* to Use QR Codes in the Classroom at
  

  *and tipshttps://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0AclS3lrlFkCIZGhuMnZjdjVfNzY1aHNkdzV4Y3I&hl=en_GB&authkey=COX05IsF&pli=1
• QR Challenge:The Events of the American Civil War at http://tinyurl.com/3pnrszphttp://tinyurl.com/3pnrszp
• QR Codes in Education at http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit/51894
• Blended Teaching with QR Codes - http://prezi.com/un-8c93k-cdy/blended-learning-with-qr-codes/
• Using QR Codes in Education at http://www.iste.org/connect/iste-connects/blog-detail/11-01-12/Using_QR_Codes_in_Education.aspx

  
  
  
  
  

QR Code Scanners and Creators

Have you seen any of those little squares of code on a magazine, newspaper, museum picture, or other?  It would look similar to the code noted below:

The code above is a link to this blog!  Wonder how to use it?  First, download a QR (Quick Response)  scanner to your mobile device (it needs to have a rear-facing camera).  Open the QR app - and hold it over the code.  You will receive a menu with options, such as opening a web page.  Wikipedia is a great starting point to learn more about QR codes - at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code

QR scanners are available for all of the popular smartphones including the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.  I am using the app, QR Scanner, on the iPhone.

So you still might be wondering about why to use QR codes.  Think about it.  With QR code, you do not need to enter the URL of a website - just point and click.  QR codes allow the creator to share messages to users. PS, I used the Kaywa website to create the QR code at  http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

I read a blog on design thinking this morning that discussed the use of QR codes in the educational setting.  In that context, students who created a projects created QR codes to provide additional information to users. 

Wow - need to think about how I can incorporate the use of creating/using QR codes in my courses.

More Android Apps

A Lifehacker article has a listing of more Android apps at http://lifehacker.com/5827518/lifehacker-pack-for-android-our-list-of-the-best-android-apps

Some of the favorites still include Dropbox (cloud storage), Evernote (word processing, notes, pics, voice synced to the cloud), Kindle, and Pandora (music). 

Apps for the Smartphone

A few weeks I posted a request to hear from those using smartphones, especially the Droid, favorite apps.  Tracy - I know that you must have missed that blog :)

Anyway, the August 2011 has a very nice article, Essential Apps for Every Smartphone.  It includes apps for the Droid, Blackberry RIM, Apple, and Windows Phone 7.  You can read the article online at http://www.pcworld.com/article/230629/essential_apps_for_android.html

Would like to hear your comments - what you liked and what might have been missing from the list. 

Thinking about Purchasing a New Laptop?

Katie called me yesterday morning from Pennsylvania.  Her 7 year old laptop is on death's door and she needs to purchase a new one.  Her local IT guy said that she needed to spend over $1000.  I knew that she was not doing much other than Quickbooks - especially with  very old computer.  I also knew that tablets were taking a big bite out of the laptop market.  We did some quick searches together and verified that indeed she can find a great laptop for less than $1000 ($500-$800 range). 

Of course, the IT guy was also going to charge her to transfer her files.  My recommendation (since software would have to be are regular install) - go out a purchase a thumbdrive.  She will be able to drag her entire My Documents and My Desktop folders over to the new laptop.  Afterwards, she could use the thumbdrive to back up her essential documents.

ZocDoc for scheduling appointments

Martha sent me a link to a new app, ZocDoc.  It is available in the iTunes store and it is free.  What the app does is to allow you to search for a provider and see available appointment times. Thc concept is awesome!  That said, if we are having difficulty getting providers to use technology.... you get the idea.

Check out the link at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zocdoc-doctor-appointments/id391062219?mt=8&ls=1

DoseMinder

Martha shared info on a free app,DoseMinder. You can enter the names of individuals, their Medscape, amounts, and times. The app sends a reminder. The price is right. Certainly worth exploring.