Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital

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Healthcare » Electronic Medical Records Systems

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Wacom's interactive pen displays filled a weakness in the electronic patient record system and became the key to the system installation.

The vast majority of data in the electronic patient record system is digital text. Keyboard input and simplified, template-based input have been introduced, but simple and easy description of conditions, pointing to exact location of the body, is not possible when description requires words. If illustration on the PC screen freely and easily as drawing on a patient's chart is possible, medical records can become much more effective and easy to use. This became possible with the interactive pen display.

Wacom's interactive pen displays eliminate a weakness in the electronic patient record system

"When I first saw the interactive pen display, I knew that was it. I was convinced that it will solve the sketching problem, a disadvantage of the electronic medical record system."

The interactive pen display is capable of capturing sketches, drawn as you would on paper, direct attention of the viewer with marker pen lines and markings. According to Professor Hayashi, "The interactive pen display helps us make drawings and write on the monitor and enter comments on graphics showing inspection results, etc. I think nothing can beat this system. It's no exaggeration to say that it is the tool that broke through the last obstacle to installation of the electronic patient record system. With this device, I am seriously willing to use the system."

The electronic patient record system requires "effort in input" and produces "ease in output." The interactive pen display reduces the need for "effort in input."

"The paper-based patient record system excelled in allowing the doctor to write freely as one pleases. However, it causes problems in usage after input--namely in terms of information search and data tabulation. The electronic patient record makes this very easy. Although you need time to become accustomed to it, it makes post-processes dramatically easier than handling paper records. However, the interactive pen display will certainly reduce the time needed to smooth out the startup problems."

The pen enables not only input by hand but mouse features such as click and drag, without switching to a mouse. The various items on the menu bar can be selected easily on the tablet. Professor Hayashi commented, "The emergence of the interactive pen display is certain to lead to dominance of the electronic system over the paper patient record system."

Quick and easy input with penpoint pressure and erase features

"The medical doctor uses colored pencils and ballpoint pen to make drawings. An ophthalmologist uses more than 7 colors to record information on the patient record. Each color has meaning and makes distinctions. The interactive pen display has been designed to create anything from simple sketches to detailed drawings," said Professor Hayashi. The colors available for manual input offers range in line thickness, color density and shade, as well as marker pen feature.

"You are able to use the penpoint pressure feature to select pen touch and express the level of inflammation. If your lines veer off, there is, in addition to "undo," a very analog-like feature of using the eraser feature with the tail switch. This will certainly be an effective tool in various medical areas, including surgery, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology," said Assistant Professor Nakagawa.

"The Ophthalmology Development can't do without the interactive pen display"

The pen is an essential tool in drawing in the electronic patient record. Doing the same thing with a mouse will take ten times more time, it is being used effectively, since drawings of the ocular fundus are extremely important."

"The copy-and-paste feature is very good to enter information in a short period of time. It doesn't take a minute to enter diagnosis of symptoms such as retinal detachment and retinal holes. Our department makes frequent use of penpoint pressure and crayon features. Drawings are the easiest to understand and communicate when the patient is taken over by other doctors. Drawings are a must."

Security of the system is being controlled with fingerprint authentication, ID card and password. A log is kept to show which doctor checked which patient's medical records. "The electronic system allows access to patient records from terminals inside the hospital. This increased the frequency of reading by relevant doctors. This certainly adds positive pressure on us to enter information accurately."

"Sketching is necessary in describing X-ray examinations"

"Our department inspects X-rays chiefly of the abdominal and chest areas, and the interactive pen display is used to enter our diagnosis in the electronic patient record. Description with sketches enables us to evaluate conditions correctly and quickly, compared to text description, even in case of repeat examination or change in the doctor examining the patient. Medical diagnosis by a doctor is more easily understood with schema charts rather than with text."

Sharing the advantages of the electronic patinet record system and the interactive pen display with as many doctors as possible

"Sketching is very important in entering information of the patient record. That is why the interactive pen display is a very good tool. Although the electronic patient record system requires "getting used to," it is also beneficial for future data usage, such as data search and statistical tabulation. In addition, we are able to enter only the update changes and produce copies to give to patients of chronic diseases. In fact, entry is possible in a short period of time, compared to the paper-based record.

"That is why the key is using the system effectively and entering diagnostic information in sketches. The doctors able to do this accurately will be the winners several years from now. We hope to pour energy into effective use by the medical staff members, along with the electronic patient record system," said Assistant Professor Nakagawa. In the future, the interactive pen display will become an essential input device for the system.