PATIENTS TO BENEFIT FROM ELECTRONIC, FORMLESS SYSTEM
Physicians Can Now Remotely View
New Mother's Vitals

Dr. Reza Ahmadinia, an obstetrician, checks his cell phone for the latest update on his patient's vital signs. The new system allows physicians secure, remote access to the fetal monitoring strip of new mothers preparing to deliver a baby at St. Mary Medical Center. System Highlights Physicians are able to check on patients at all times Nurses spend additional time at the bedside Less opportunity for human error Works with systems already in place Can be tailored to hospital's needs

The Labor and Delivery Department at St. Mary Medical Center has new fetal monitoring surveillance equipment thanks in part to a grant from Verizon.

The new equipment is called a QS Perinatal Clinical Information System and works with special software called AirStrip OB that allows doctors to view maternal and fetal information, which follows a mother's vital signs, contractions and the baby's heart beat, via a secure computer connection in real time.

"This system will allow me to check on my patients and provide better patient care at any time and from any location," says Dr. Reza Ahmadinia, an obstetrician. "All I need is my PDA and password."

Remote access is just one of the benefits provided by the new system from General Electric.

"It will improve patient care because nurses won't have to leave the new mother's bedside as often in order to do paperwork," says Kirsten Bustos, a registered nurse in the department and one of the system administrators of the QS Perinatal system.

PROVIDING PERSONAL CARE
The new system allows nurses to spend more one-on-one time with the mothers. The program's charting function makes it possible for the nurses to fill out all of their forms and chronicle the mother's progress on a computer.

"It's a wonderful thing we've been waiting for," notes Michelle Cataneso, a registered nurse and one of the system administrators. "It will definitely reduce opportunity for human error because nurses won't be handwriting all their chart notes."

While the system eliminates the various forms nurses have to fill out, they are not using it to become a paperless department. The computer will print out the forms each day, and they will be placed in the patients' charts.

With 230 to 250 babies entering the world each month at St. Mary Medical Center, statistics are important. The system will keep track of the procedures, medications and tests within the department, making staffing and supply decisions easier to calculate and more accurate. Having plenty of staff on hand as well as supplies helps ensure patients receive the care they expect and deserve.

Several St. Mary nurses will be trained to tailor the system to meet the needs of the hospital and any new requirements that arise from governing agencies.

St. Mary is very appreciative to Verizon for its generosity. One of Verizon's priorities when approving grants is to work with organizations that are improving the delivery of health care as well as other community benefits, such as literacy and access to technology.

"Verizon is fully committed to supporting organizations that are making inroads in these important areas," says Tim McCallion, Verizon's West region president.