Attention News Editors:
New Hi-Tech Tool For Nurses
McGuinty Government Delivering Better And More Effective Care For
Patients
TORONTO, May 13 /CNW/ -
NEWS
Ontario nurses will be soon be able to instantly access drug databases,
diagnostic materials and medical dictionaries - all at their patient's bedside
- to deliver faster and more effective care.
It's part of a new plan to deliver hand-held computer devices known as
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to up to 2,000 front-line nurses in
Ontario. This is the first provincial government funded nursing initiative of
its kind in Canada.
PDAs provide nurses with instant access to a range of clinical tools that
allow them to quickly diagnose and counsel patients at the bedside with a few
simple clicks. PDAs also have the potential to reduce medical errors.
This $3 million investment will allow long-term care homes, hospitals and
other organizations to buy 1,390 hand-held devices for front-line nurses.
This initiative is part of HealthForceOntario, the government's health
human resources strategy that will provide Ontario with the right number and
mix of health care providers, working in communities across the province to
meet the province's health needs - now and in the future.
QUOTES
"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," said Sherri Oliver, Director of the Strategic Nursing Initiatives
Unit, Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO). "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."
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QUICK FACTS
PDAs are hand-held computer devices that store information, provide access
to resources and offer a range of interactive clinical tools for
practitioners. 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
>>
LEARN MORE
Learn more about the HealthForceOntario
(http://www.healthforceontario.ca/) strategy.
Visit the Ontario Nursing Secretariat
(http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/program/nursing_sec/nursing_sec
_mn.html) online to learn more about the nursing programs that make Ontario
the employer of choice for nurses.
<<
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ontario.ca/health-news
Disponible en français
BACKGROUNDER
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PDA INITIATIVE FOR ONTARIO NURSES
>>
Ontario is investing $3 million for Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs),
an initiative that allows nurses to deliver more effective care to patients.
This investment will allow long-term care homes, hospitals and other
organizations to buy 1,390 hand-held devices for front-line nurses. This is
the first provincial government funded nursing initiative of its kind in
Canada.
BENEFIT TO PATIENTS
PDAs provide nurses with instant access to a range of clinical tools and
programs, helping nurses respond to the health care needs of patients with
enhanced speed and accuracy. Under the current initiative, 1,390 devices are
being purchased, giving up to 2000 nurses bedside access to PDA technology.
Bringing evidence-based practice to the bedside will result in improved
patient outcomes throughout the health care system.
<<
PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANTS
PDAs are hand-held computer devices that store information, provide access
to resources and offer a range of interactive clinical tools for
practitioners. 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
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
Ontario is providing funding to 30 organizations, including hospitals,
long-term care homes, public health units, family health teams, home health
care agencies and correctional services institutions, for the purchase of
PDAs.
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Organization City LHIN
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- Bayshore Home Health Mississauga Provide services across
- Saint Elizabeth Health Care Markham numerous LHINs
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- VHA Home HealthCare Toronto Central, Central East,
Toronto Central, Central
West, Erie St. Clair
- Victorian Order of Nurses Ottawa South East, Central East
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- Ministry of Community 12 sites Various LHINs
Safety and Correctional
Services
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- Thunder Bay Regional Health Thunder Bay North West
Sciences Centre
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- Algonquin Nursing Home Mattawa North East
- Foyer des Pionniers Hearst
- Hopital Notre Dame Hospital Hearst
- Ontario Finnish Resthome Sault Ste.
Association Marie
- Timmins Family Health Team Timmins
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- Brant Community Healthcare Brantford Hamilton Niagara
System Haldimand Brant
- John Noble Home Brantford
- Joseph Brant Memorial Burlington
Hospital
- St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
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- CanCare Health Services Inc. Belleville South East
- H.J. McFarland Memorial Home Picton
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- Chesley Park LTC London South West
- Woodingford Lodge Woodstock
- Knollcrest Lodge Milverton
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- Children's Hospital of Ottawa Champlain
Eastern Ontario
- Extendicare Ottawa
- We Care Home Health Services Ottawa
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- Christie Gardens Toronto Toronto Central
- The O'Neill Centre Toronto
- University Health Network Toronto
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- Comcare Health Services Kitchener North West, Erie St.
Clair, Waterloo
Wellington
- North Wellington Health Care Fergus Waterloo Wellington
& Groves Memorial Hospital
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- Windsor Regional Hospital Windsor Erie St. Clair
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- Jarlette Health Services Midland North Simcoe Muskoka
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ontario.ca/health-news
Disponible en français
>>
For further information: Laurel Ostfield, Minister's Office, (416)
212-4048; Mark Nesbitt, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197
