A $3 million investment by the McGuinty Government shows that progress can be made! 1390 front-line nurses will be given the ability to access drug databases, diagnostic materials and medical dictionaries with a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) – right at the patients bedside.
This is the first provincial government funded nursing initiative of its kind in Canada and its aim is to deliver faster and more effective care and reduce clinical errors.
You can find more information at the HealthForceOntario website.
“This is all about giving nurses the tools they need to deliver care with speed and accuracy at a patient’s bedside,” said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “I see this as kind of a computerized medical lifeline for many nurses, especially those working on
their own in home care or the night shift in a long-term care home where access to quick and accurate medical advice may be more limited.”
“Enabling nurses to have access to information at the point of care is vital. Decisions are made each time a nurse assess a client or patient. By using technology such as a PDA much time is saved when that nurse does not need to leave that individual in order to retrieve additional information. RPNAO is committed to working together with the ministry and other stakeholders to ensure all nurses at the point of care are enabled to practice in a manner that meets the needs at hand.” said Sherri Oliver, Director of the Strategic Nursing Initiatives Unit, Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO).
Under the PDA initiative, each device will include:
– Drug database
– Calculator
– Medical dictionary
– Registered Nursing Association of Ontario (RNAO) best practice guides
– Lexi or Pepid Nursing Suites which provide clinical point-of-care
reference materials and comprehensive drug information
– McMaster Nursing Plus which provides a database of best evidence from
medical literature
– Organization-specific resources including policies and procedures,
medical directives, and infection control guidelines.
PDA funding is being provided to 30 organizations including:
– Long-term care homes
– Hospitals
– Public health units
– Family health teams
– Home health care agencies
– Correctional facilities
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