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Ergonomic automated anesthesia recordkeeper using a mobile touch screen with voice navigtion
1Surgical Operation Center, Hamamatsu University Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan. ysanjo@hama-med.ac.jp
Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing
|February 13, 2003
Summary
Anesthesia recordkeeping was improved with a new computerized tool allowing visual patient contact. While widely accepted, voice functions need enhancement for a fully hands-free experience.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Traditional anesthesia recordkeeping can impede direct patient observation.
- Developing intuitive interfaces is crucial for clinical workflow efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create an ergonomically designed, computerized recordkeeping tool for anesthesiologists.
- To enable clinicians to maintain visual contact with patients during recordkeeping.
Main Methods:
- Developed two software components: All Purpose Menu 1 (APM1) for tree-structured input and APM2 for voice-prompted entries.
- Utilized a configurable touch-screen interface with voice response and recognition, adaptable to anesthesia machines.
- Designed an adjustable, flexible screen mount (85 cm) to optimize user positioning.
Main Results:
- The VOCAAR system, featuring touch-screen input and voice response, achieved high user acceptance (100% after two months).
- Voice response sound levels were minimal, audible only to the anesthesiologist at the primary workstation.
- The system facilitated maintaining visual contact with the patient during recordkeeping tasks.
Conclusions:
- The developed EARK system successfully integrates recordkeeping with patient monitoring through a mobile touch screen and voice feedback.
- Current voice recognition limitations prevent a completely hands-free interface, necessitating further technological advancements.
- Future research should explore the interplay between vigilance and maintaining visual contact in clinical settings.