Intel Technology Allows Nurses To Spend More Time With Patients

Intel Corporation today announced the mobile clinical assistant (MCA) is ready to enable nurses to spend more time with patients, do their jobs on the move while remaining connected, and manage the administration of medications. Motion Computing's C5 is the first product based on Intel's MCA platform and has earned support from clinicians and nurses participating in pilot studies around the world including the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom.


As Intel's first platform built specifically for healthcare, the MCA is an important step in the company's efforts to better connect clinicians to comprehensive patient information on a real-time basis. The lightweight, spill-resistant, drop-tolerant and easily disinfected MCA allows nurses to access up-to-the-minute patient records and to document a patient's condition instantly, enhancing clinical workflow while reducing the staff's administrative workload.


Some of the Motion C5 features designed to ease the nurse's daily workload include: wireless connectivity to access up-to-date secure patient information and physician's orders; radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for easy, rapid user logon; a digital camera to enhance patient charting and progress notes, to keep track of wounds as they heal; and bluetooth technology to help capture patient vital signs.


As part of the solution, Intel and Motion Computing worked closely with electronic medical record (EMR) and other clinical software companies to refine their applications for use on MCA. Innovative technology and clinical software leaders included Allscripts, Cardinal Health, Cerner Corporation, Eclipsys Corporation, Epic Systems Corporation, GE Healthcare, iSoft, McKesson, Nexus, Siemens Medical Solutions and Welch Allyn.


To develop the MCA, Intel also conducted a broad range of pilot studies in hospitals worldwide, including Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, El Camino Hospital in Northern California and Changi General Hospital in Singapore. Social scientists from Intel's Digital Health Group conducted ethnographic studies of clinicians using the MCA at each hospital to understand the platform's usage, usefulness and usability in the context of real clinical work practice. Across these hospital settings, nurses and physicians appreciated the integrated handle; immediate anytime, anywhere access to secure patient information and orders; and the docking station that allows them to easily swap batteries to achieve shift-long use.


"Today technology comes to the aid of those who help others," said Paul Otellini, Intel president and CEO. "The mobile clinical assistant was defined and shaped by the clinicians who will use it. They have told us it will improve their decision making and patient care while easing overall workloads. This is a great example of putting innovative technology to work solving real needs."


The MCA trial at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust was the first European pilot for this new category of computing device. Phlebotomists (clinical support staff who collect blood from patients) and elderly care staff at the hospital spent four weeks testing the MCA on an elderly care ward.


Jenny Quilliam, staff nurse at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust said, "The MCA enabled me to have on the spot access for inputting patient details at the bedside. I was able to look up results, check and make referrals as part of the ward round and support case conferences by having quick access to patient details."


The NHS was involved from the very beginning in providing input into the design of the MCA category, and as a result of the outcome of the pilot scheme is supporting the MCA product category. Dr. Mike Bainbridge, Senior Clinical Architect, NHS Connecting for Health said, "Knowledge at the point of care is key to improving patient safety. The mobile clinical assistant represents the culmination of three years partnership between NHS Connecting for Health and industry to design and deliver tools which match the challenging and complex environment of high quality, personalised 21st century healthcare."


Intel worked closely with Motion who embraced the vision of a new category of devices and is leading the industry in providing a better solution for nurses and doctors.


"Delivering solutions that improve the quality of care is a strategic priority for Motion, and we have heard directly from clinicians how technology can help them spend more time caring for their patients," said Scott Eckert, Motion president and CEO. "We're excited to be working with Intel to bring the C5 product to market, as well as the healthcare software community to help build the MCA platform category. We look forward to extending our outcome-driven approach to help our healthcare clients achieve their objectives for clinician productivity and patient care."


For more information about the Intel MCA, please visit the Web site at intel/healthcare/mca. An on-demand web cast of the MCA Launch in the UK will be available on the Intel website on Wednesday, 21 February after 16:00 GMT. To view please visit: hosting.twofour/intelmcalaunchwebcast/current


About Intel in Healthcare


Intel recognizes that its work in the healthcare industry is not about solving technology problems; it's about solving people problems. The challenge inspires Intel to pursue technology definition and product development, as well as to serve in an advisory role. A prime example is guiding hospitals through the process of deploying key technologies, such as wireless networking. Intel does so by lending hospitals the design expertise of its solutions specialists, as well as by engaging the solution delivery expertise of third-party service providers.


These efforts align with the company's overall Digital Health initiative, which draws on Intel's heritage of technology innovation to help usher in improvements in the fundamental areas of healthcare quality, access and cost.


Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at intel/pressroom.

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