Jerry Fahrni

Author: Jerry Fahrni

  • Windows 7 install on Dell XT2 tablet PC

    Windows 7 install on Dell XT2 tablet PC

    I finally got around to installing Windows 7 Ultimate on my Dell Latitude XT2 Tablet PC. I’ve been hesitant to do it because of the well publicized issues with the Dell tablet digitizer and Windows 7. You can get the gist of the issue at GottaBeMobile.
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  • Motion C5 tablet gets a ride

    Motion Computing makes several Mobile Clinical Assistants (MCA), including the popular Motion C5 tablet. Don’t be confused by the MCA moniker, a MCA is simply a rugged tablet PC with some additional features like a barcode or RFID scanner and a digital camera. You can get more information on MCAs at the Intel website.

    I’ve been fairly critical of this class of device in the past for several reasons. After using the Motion C5 for several weeks last year I found the 10.4 inch screen much too small for everyday use. In addition the design of the placement for the barcode scanner in the handle made the MCA too cumbersome to be really effective in patient care areas; it required too much manipulation to scan patient wrist bands. The nurses I’ve worked with tend to agree.
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  • “What’d I miss?” – Week of March 7, 2010

    As usual there were a lot of things that happened during the week, and not all of it was pharmacy or technology related. Here’s a quick look at some of the stuff I found interesting.

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  • Cool Technology for Pharmacy

    Ask any pharmacist that’s been around for a while and they’ll tell you about the headaches associated with faxed medication orders. I can’t tell you how inefficient a fax machine can be for order retrieval, storage and sorting. In fact, fax machines really can’t do any of that. Well, you no longer have to deal with fax machines in the pharmacy if you chose not to.

    Pharmacy, or physician, order management systems like OmniLinkRx offer a software only solution designed to reduce the influx of faxed orders to the pharmacy. Not only do systems like this reduce confusion, they also reduce paper waste. I suppose that makes OmniLinkRx “green”. Consider OmniLinkRx a digital fax machine that sends the order to your computer monitor instead of a fax machine.

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  • Speaking of healthcare data, is Microsoft the elephant in the room?

    In a previous blog I discussed the need for a uniformed data structure in healthcare. The concept got me thinking about how to accomplish such a monumental task, and make no mistake, it would be a monumental task. There aren’t many “people” out there that could develop the hardware and software infrastructure solid enough to handle the needs of the complex data stream coming out of the healthcare industry.

    Then I noticed a trend at a lot of the web sites that I frequent: Microsoft has slowly, and quietly, been positioning itself to jump into the healthcare market.
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  • Motorola DROID getting some attention in the pharmacy literature

    The February 2010 issue of Hospital Pharmacy (PDF) contains a review of the Motorola DROID, and the authors overall impression of the device is positive. I’ve had a DROID since its release in early November 2009. My initial impressions of the device can be found here.

    As mentioned by the authors in the article the currently available pharmacy-related applications are limited when compared to devices like the iPhone, but the numbers are growing. Drug information resources like Lexi-Comp, Skyscape and ePocrates are now available for use on the DROID as well as some medical references like Merck Medicus, Unboud Medicine and UpToDate (via mobile browser). Unfortunately I don’t have a list of available medical applications for the Android operating system nor do I know of a site that does, but the popularity of the Android operating system is growing and it’s only a matter of time before other medical references start popping up.

    One piece of advice in the article that I found interesting was to “begin by selecting the telecommunication service that is most reliable and has the best connectivity coverage for voice and data in the community where you live.” Imagine that, selecting a mobile phone that first and foremost keeps you connected. I’ll make sure to keep that in mind the next time I feel the need to purchase another smartphone. Then again maybe I won’t. I guess that depends on how badly I want the device.

  • BCMA Implementation checklist and lessons learned

    First off let me start by saying that I think BCMA is a worthwhile endeavor. It can have a positive impact on a healthcare system, not only in terms of safety, but with inventory management and billing . The other nice benefit is the ability to see the medication administration in “real-time”. Pharmacists can look at vancomycin and aminoglycoside administration times online now instead of going to the paper chart, for example. And isn’t that the whole idea behind electronic documentation? I think so.

    Our facility went live with out first BCMA unit last week. It’s still early, but my initial take is that things went fairly well. We had a few minor issues, but nothing that couldn’t be handled easily and quickly. No matter how well you plan for something there will always be some bumps in the road, and that is important to note.

    Below are some things that I picked up along the road to implementation. Some of these things we did well and some we didn’t do at all. This list is my opinion and not the gospel on BCMA implementation by any stretch of the imagination. Please remember that as you read through it.
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  • New peripherals for Motion C5 and F5 tablets

    GottaBeMobile.com: “Motion Computing is introducing a two peripherals and some software that should help tablet users that work in the healthcare industry. The motion folks are exhibiting their wares at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference in Atlanta.” – The peripherals being referred to are ReadyDock (PDF) for the C5 and F5 Tablet PCs and a new RAM Mount with integrated lock.

    The ReadyDock is a cabinet designed to charge up to 20 C5 or F5 tablets at once. In addition the ReadyDock offers standard network connection to the tablets while docked granting remote IT support like data backup. The ReadyDock is nice if you have the need to charge several devices at once, but each cabinet will set you back about $2300. I think I like the standard C5/F5 docking station better because you can attach an external keyboard and mouse to it which allows you to continue working while the tablet charges.
    The second peripheral, the RAM Mount with integrated combination lock, is actually supplied by a third party vendor. RAM Mounts makes mounting hardware for mobile devices like laptops and GPS units. The RAM Mount is simply a lockable port replicator that can be mounted on a wall or poll.
    I still prefer the J3400 tablet from Motion over the C5/F5.

    Posted via email from fahrni’s posterous

  • “What’d I miss?” – Week of February 28th, 2010

    As usual there were a lot of things that happened during the week, and not all of it was pharmacy or technology related. Here’s a quick look at some of the stuff I found interesting.
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  • Cool Technology for Pharmacy

    In a previous post I mused about using an automated packaging system like InSite from Talyst as a type of automated dispensing cabinet for acute care patients. InSite was designed for long-term care and would simply be too large for the needs of an acute care nursing unit, but the technology is ideal.

    However, the ATP-71 (PDF) from Swisslog is a bulk packager that can hold up to 71 canisters in a relatively small footprint: 31.5 inches wide x 29.6 inches deep x 30.6 inches high. For comparison, a Pyxis MedStation 4000 2-drawer main unit is 22.8 inches wide x 26.7 inches deep x 27.7 inches high. I would say that makes the two units comparable in terms of size, and I can tell you from personal experience that a 2-drawer main isn’t very big up close.
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