Bedside information technology to support patient-centered care.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Real-time bedside information is crucial for safe, patient-centered care but is often inaccessible.
• Both patients and healthcare providers recognize the need for specific information at the bedside.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify essential data elements for a bedside communication tool in acute care settings.
• To define requirements for improving information access at the patient's bedside.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive research utilizing group and individual interviews with patients and healthcare providers.
• Analysis of qualitative data to identify common themes, followed by survey validation.

Main Results:

• Thirty-seven information requirements were identified across five themes: plan of care, patient education, safety alerts, diet, and medications.
• A survey confirmed 36 specific requirements, with patients and providers highlighting similar priorities.
• Patients uniquely emphasized understanding the daily routine schedule compared to nurses.

Conclusions:

• Patients and healthcare providers identified critical bedside information needs to support self-care and hospital environment comprehension.
• Accessible and accurate bedside information is fundamental for delivering safe, patient-centered care.