Authors (including presenting author) :
Hou KC(1), Tsui CW(1), Tsang LF(1), Wong CK(1), Kong CY(1), Tse CC(1), Hui CK(1), Cheng HC(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, United Christian Hospital
Introduction :
Conventionally we use a whiteboard with coloured magnets to show the bed assignment and logistic flow in our ward. The high turnover rate in an acute ward involves moving the magnets frequently which is messy, and requires timely calculation which is time-consuming.
Objectives :
To develop an electronic bed assignment system to reduce the time-consuming on calculation and to display the allocation clearly.
Methodology :
A program was designed based on “user-developed concept”. Nurses, as the major users utilize programming to write an electronic dashboard based on HTML5, CSS and Javascript which are universal programing code that could be run in browsers and compatible with current operating systems such as CMS system and ADS computer in HA. The program is sustainable in both maintenance and update. I has various advantages over the previously used whiteboard, such as automatic and instantaneous calculation of patients according to different preset subgroup, clear display of patients under different categories, highly preservable data by saving to local drive every second, and automatic arrangement of bed buttons in order automatically.
The design and development of the dashboard were well briefed among senior management and the IT ambassador all orthopaedic wards. Support was obtained by senior management, and a 50’ TV was purchased for the purpose. The dashboard started to launch since from 9 December 2019. Nurses and clerical staff were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire using a google form between 13 and 21 December 2019 and to determine the satisfaction of the electronic bed assignment system.
Result & Outcome :
A high response rate of 64% was achieved. In the responses 97 % of nurses were satisfied with the design of the dashboard. 90% agreed that the dashboard is easy to operate. 90% agreed that the dashboard is clearly to display the bed number comparing to the traditional way. 90% agreed that the dashboard can reduce the time on calculation of patients under different subgroups than that by manual. Some nurses / clerks encountered the problems using the dashboard such as text is too small. Some suggested improving the system in areas such as reducing the content which make the board to show important information only. All of these precious opinions have been addressed and the 2nd version of the program has been using currently.
In short, staff agree that the new board greatly reduces the time on patient logistic record and displays the allocation clearly which is beneficial to ward management.
