Effectiveness of a Mobile App in Reducing Therapeutic Turnaround Time and Facilitating Communication between Caregivers in a Pediatric Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Abstract

For maintaining collaboration and coordination among emergency department (ED) caregivers, it is essential to effectively share patient-centered information. Indirect activities on patients, such as searching for laboratory results and sharing information with scattered colleagues, waste resources to the detriment of patients and staff. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to evaluate the initial efficacy of a mobile app to facilitate rapid mobile access to central laboratory results and remote interprofessional communication. A total of 10 ED residents and registered nurses were randomized regarding the use of the app versus conventional methods during semi-simulated scenarios in a pediatric ED (PED). The primary outcome was the elapsed time in minutes in each group from the availability of laboratory results to their consideration by participants. The secondary outcome was the elapsed time to find a colleague upon request. Time to consider laboratory results was significantly reduced from 23 min (IQR 10.5–49.0) to 1 min (IQR 0–5.0) with the use of the app compared to conventional methods (92.2% reduction in mean times, p = 0.0079). Time to find a colleague was reduced from 24 min to 1 min (i.e., 93.0% reduction). Dedicated mobile apps have the potential to improve information sharing and remote communication in emergency care.

Effectiveness of a Mobile App (PIMPmyHospital) in Reducing Therapeutic Turnaround Times in an Emergency Department: Protocol for a Pre- and Posttest Study

“…One of the strengths of this study is the use of an app whose iterative design and development involved a multidisciplinary end user–centered approach [ 15 ]. In addition, the app’s ability to reduce the time taken by pediatric ED caregivers to consider laboratory results has already been the subject of a randomized controlled pilot trial in a semisimulated ED environment [ 16 ]. This study will attempt to verify its encouraging results in a real environment with its spatial and temporal constraints and inherent human factors.…”

“…Information regarding the app has been published previously [ 16 ]. In brief, the app was developed iteratively following a user-centered approach starting with the identification of the main functionalities that meet end-user needs [ 15 ].…”

“…The app runs on Google's Android and Apple's iOS operating systems. The app's interface features a home page with a personalized view of the patients that each caregiver is taking care of, together with associated information (eg, patient identity, time since admission, and patient's geospatial location within the ED) and clickable actions next to them [16]. In particular, dropdown contextual tabs provide real-time access to laboratory results retrieved from the hospital patient's EMR.…”

“…The app also offers an end-to-end encrypted chat to provide a remote communication channel between caregivers caring for the same patients. In a randomized controlled pilot trial [ 16 ], the time required for ED physicians and nurses to review laboratory results after their release was significantly reduced by 92% using the app compared to the usual procedure in a semisimulated model. However, the potential effectiveness of this app in mitigating ED-LOS by taking cognizance of laboratory results in a shorter time frame than usual remains to be evaluated in daily clinical ED practice.…”

Influencing Factors and Symbiotic Mechanism of the Integration of Medical and Disease Prevention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Public Hospital Employees

“…The information sharing model could break the shortcomings of the previous work of each department in the process of integration of medical and disease prevention [43]. The perfection of the digital technology environment and the communication environment in the symbiotic environment provided the basis for the information sharing model.…”