title: Demonstrating the BlackBerry as a clinical communication tool: a pilot study conducted through the Centre for Innovation in Complex Care.
abstract: Canadians are living longer with chronic medical conditions, which have led to an increasing complexity and volume of care for hospitalized patients. Effective in-patient care depends on the effective coordination of care through rapid and efficient communication between various care providers. A delay in coordinating this care has downstream effects on other parts of the system, ultimately contributing to increased emergency department wait times. To address this system-wide issue, the Centre for Innovation in Complex Care at the University Health Network collaborated with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to pilot the use of BlackBerry devices on the general internal medicine wards to improve clinical communication. We describe the implementation process, impact on clinical care and lessons learned from this experience. We observed that residents quickly adopted this new technology and felt that it improved their workflow efficiency and productivity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation in Complex Care, University Health Network.
authors.forename: Sherman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mraz
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamill
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Rossos
mesh_terms: D001292:Attitude to Computers; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006282:Health Personnel; D006769:Hospitals, General; D008490:Medical Informatics; D009864:Ontario; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011787:Quality of Health Care