Days after NSW's Health's technology was slammed as archaic, the Sydney West Area Health Service has gone to market for over 2,000 high-capacity bedside touch-screen computers for patient entertainment and clinician access to core health systems.
The proposed bedside "multifunctional devices" which Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS) released request for tender documents yesterday, are planned to be powered by 40 gigabyte hard drives, with 1Ghz Intel CPUs, and garnished with a 17 inch touch-screen.
SWAHS has asked for the units to be supplied with infrared keyboards, a web camera for video conferencing, and a magnetic swipe card reader and biometric scanner for secure access.
SWAHS said in the tender documents that the new bedside computers would double as entertainment units for patients as well as allow clinicians to access NSW Health's Cerner system, which came under fire in Garling's review for lacking a flagging system for patient care during critical periods.
The tender was released days after special commissioner Peter Garling gave a damning assessment of the technology that supported NSW Health's acute health care system. Garling recommended an urgent $704 million rescue package to bolster the state's $315 million investment strategy. The NSW government has proposed a response by March next year.
"Clinical staff currently compete for access to terminals at the staff stations for viewing of results in the Cerner Millennium application and PACs images in several hospitals, with the additional dependence on the electronic record for access and data entry to the eMR it is required that point of care access be provided," SWAHS stated in the tender documents.
SWAHS also flagged its upcoming roll-out of its electronic medical record system and said it hoped the bedside units would support real-time data entry.
Auburn's 185 hospital beds are the first planned to be equipped with the devices, followed by 400 beds at Blacktown Hospital, 116 at Blue Mountains District Anzac Memorial Hospital, 40 at Lithgow, 180 at Mt Druitt, 480 at Nepean, 32 at Springwood and 900 Westmead — in total, 2333 devices.
Tender responses are due by Wednesday 17 December.
Finally. This will streamline the whole process of collection of information in an easy way and keep Nurses at the bedside. I believe the added advantage of patient portals will be well received. Cleaning the screen will be an important issue for infection control.