Courage Lives Here
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54
A Year in Review 2012 – 2013: Corporate Support
Shared Information Management Services
Courage is...
embracing
change
Technology transforms,
improves patient care
In a world full of technological advancements, gadgets
and smartphones, UHN’s Dr. Allan Okrainec knows the
advantage of technology goes far beyond video games
and instant messaging.
It has a valuable place in the medical field.
“Pen to paper is a thing of the past,” he said.
The bariatric surgeon leads a team at the Toronto
Western Hospital’s Bariatric Clinic.
It’s a place where technology is not only transforming
the patient experience, but the way clinicians work.
“Incorporating mobile technology in our work can help
create efficiencies so we can spend more time with our
patients or potentially treat more patients,” said
Okrainec. “For the patient, it means waiting less for the
care they need.”
Dr. Allan Okrainec, left, and Sandra Robinson, RN and manager of UHN’s Bariatric
program, hold iPads that support an app which is used as a documentation tool
for clinicians.
(Photo: UHN)
Milestone project
To highlight the potential of technological advancements
in patient care, UHN launched the Bariatric Surgery
Advanced Clinical Documentation (ACD) project.
“This initiative marks a major milestone in documenting
patient care at the bedside using mobile technology,”
said Okrainec. “But what’s truly exciting about this
initiative is that we developed the program here at the
hospital, from the ground up.”
The project involved a multidisciplinary team including
nurses, social workers and SIMS’ (Shared Information
Management Services) project managers and developers.
‘Real magic’
Using the iPad, together, they created a synoptic
documentation tool for clinicians. The project leverages
mobile technology to help clinicians and surgeons
streamline their workflow, reduce error and improve
efficiencies so they can, ultimately, deliver better
patient care.
“The real magic of bringing this type of technology
into the process of care is to make it work for the care
providers — not making care providers work for the
technology,” said Michael Caesar, Director of Information
Management.
“Having the right information at the right time through-
out the entire continuum of care is essential, and the
combination of this device and application has allowed
the technology to take second stage,” he continued.
“The focus remains on the patient and delivering the best
possible outcomes.”
(Continued on page 56...)
“This initiative marks a major milestone in
documenting patient care at the bedside
using mobile technology.”
–Dr. Allan Okrainec
