Intel, Motion Computing develop tablet computer to reduce medical errors

California-based Intel and Texas-based Motion Computing on Tuesday unveiled a jointly developed tablet computer designed to help health care workers update medical records as they care for patients, Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times reports (Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times, 2/21).

The $2,200 Motion C5 computer is a book-sized device that includes a built-in barcode scanner to track patients and medications, a video and still camera for documenting patient problems, and radio frequency identification tracking technology (Keefe, Austin American-Statesman, 2/21). RFID can be used to identify tablet users and automatically retrieve medical charts when a nurse arrives at a patient's room. In addition, the device is able to record information -- including temperature, blood pressure and other vital signs -- directly from a patient's bedside by using wireless technology such as Bluetooth, according to Motion CEO Scott Eckert (Clark, Wall Street Journal, 2/21). Physicians and nurses can use the device to store, access and update patient records wirelessly from any location within a hospital. The device also is spill-resistant and easy to disinfect. Executives say the device will help nurses reduce paperwork, which will enable them to spend more time with patients, and is designed to reduce medical errors and improve efficiency in hospitals (Austin American-Statesman, 2/21). It also is a smaller, less cumbersome alternative to the computers on wheels that some hospitals use. Louis Burns, vice president of Intel's digital health group, said that prior before developing the device, the two companies studied nurses' work habits, consulted with nurses and tested tablets at three hospitals (Wall Street Journal, 2/21). Officials at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, which has been testing the device, said the tablet has reduced problems with transcriptions and medications errors and has improved nurse productivity (Austin American-Statesman, 2/21).

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Marc Holland, research director at Health Industry Insights of IDC, said that there are many challenges to promoting widespread use of such devices, such as the high cost. However, he said that the new Intel-Motion Computing tablet seems particularly appealing, and the device comes at a time when the Bush administration is calling on the medical industry to become more efficient. "I just believe we are at a tipping point," Holland said (Wall Street Journal, 2/21). Eckert said, "Tablets work if you've got an application that really pulls out the value of the tablet," adding that, "medical information clearly fits into that." Intel CEO Paul Otellini said, "We believe very much that (health care) is ... one of the remaining applications for technology." He added, "We're just scratching the surface of the potential of what can be done here" (Austin American-Statesman, 2/21).