Point-of-care technologies: a case for resource integration

Point-of-care technologies have been heralded as enablers of quality care and efficiency. Fueling this reputation is the assumption that these technologies are seamlessly integrated with electronic medical records. In turn, this assumption leads to caregivers' heightened expectations of the capabilities of point-of-care technologies and, when not met, to their frustration with information systems personnel. The case study presented in this article documents an actual hospital's journey to integration. In doing so, it enumerates the technical challenges faced by the organization in layperson's terms and attempts to educate clinical personnel in the intricacies of integrating new health care technologies with existing systems. The drivers to integration were a primary focus on error reduction and an active collaboration among stakeholders. Individuals became learners outside the boundaries of their professional expertise. This cross-functional approach eventually led to simultaneous quality and efficiency gains.