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Latex glove snafu inspires hospital "smart room"

EHR Connection, January 28, 2008

The patient's latex allergy was duly noted in the hospital's computer system, but somehow that wasn't enough to prevent contact with an employee wearing a latex glove-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) officials knew that it was time to build a better mousetrap.

And that's why there are now six "smart rooms" at UPMC Shadyside, according to an article in the January 16 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"Smart rooms" are equipped with computer screens that display a plethora of information, including the patient's vital signs, medications, laboratory orders, and other personal information, according to the article. But they also identify medical personnel entering the room, tell healthcare workers when patients might need assistance getting out of bed, provide allergy information, and remind people entering and leaving the room to wash their hands.

The system protects patient confidentiality by requiring medical professionals to request permission before accessing detailed health information, according to the article.

UPMC Shadyside is among a group of hospitals nationwide testing "smart rooms" as part of Transforming Care at the Bedside, an effort to improve safety and patient care sponsored by The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, according to the article. Hospital officials are using patient feedback to fine-tune the system and the facility plans to expand the "smart rooms" to a 24-bed unit in March.

Dr. Shuja Hassan, a geriatrician and "smart room" user at UPMC told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that having the most current patient information with respect to laboratory results and medications "helps to ensure the safest and most effective patient care possible. In a typical hospital setting, this information is not as easy to retrieve."

Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

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