back to article iPads for hospitals: is this a good idea?

Next year, 500 doctors and nurses in Victoria hospitals will trial the use of iPads. Graduate doctors, rather than crusty consultants, will get the devices, as the "younger group of students and graduates of the health professions have grown up with technology all around them," Daniel Andrews, Victoria's health minister, said …

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    You can blend an iPad

    but can you dip one in TCP?

    ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££'s

  2. Is it me?

    Never mind...

    Those piddling little common sense issues, it's a new toy and all the management will look "'tho cool" waltzing around the hospital with such cool kit"

    The likelihood of anyone who actually does the work getting one being zero. Mind you Apple might have a ruggedized one we don't know about.

    Will they sue, if they find out it won't work after being scanned or x-rayed.

  3. Richard 81

    Ruggedised?

    Nope. There'll be tears... and bits of iPad before bedtime.

    Also, if they were to start using tablets, shouldn't they have a slot for those NHS access cards?

    1. Andy 17
      WTF?

      Tender

      Is there no requirement to put this out to tender then?

      1. Shinobi87

        @Andy 17

        depends on the volume. think the order has to be over 100,000 before it goes to tender

        1. dylan 4
          Go

          Re purchasing in Australian health system vs NHS

          I've worked in IT in both, and in most cases procurement processes in the NHS are MUCH easier than Australia in government run health systems. There is of course some dependence on which NHS trust you work for and internal procurement policy, but for many items from bandages to million pound x-ray devices there is agreed pricing provided by vendors to NHS Supply Chain, and you just pick whatever you want from the shopping list. In a year as project manager in NHS I helped spend several million pounds on IT systems, medical equipment and PC hardware without once having to go to open tender. Back home in Oz and I'm about to go to my second full-blown tender for the year, this time for a system where I know there is only one potential vendor in the market...

          FWIW, we trialled several Windows based tablets including the Panasonics (then in prototype) and they just didn't cut it - available apps needed keyboard & mouse input to be practical, the fact that the tablets were too chunky, too heavy and had poor battery life was the smaller part of the issue. If Apple's iOS makes development of practical touch-friendly apps simpler, that's all to the good. Much of the hoo-ha about "medical grade" devices being washable is pretty irrelevant whan A) nobody washes their keyboards and mice properly now anyway B) anything with lots of corners and crevices is never going to be easy to disinfect properly C) nurses and docs chew on pens and eat their lunch while writing in patient notes (seen it happen in a Gastro ward in lockdown mode!), poo-glove-file-pen-mouth-pen-keyboard-colleague-next patient...

          Apple don't claim the iPad to be infection-control certified, but as a form factor it has a lot going for it being all smooth surfaces with minimal edges and crevices and nicely sealed. So long as the front panel can withstand some alcohol (it's glass, right?) I believe it is lower infection risk than any other tablet I have seen, medical or no.

          Just don't drop it, or let it get nicked!

    2. Loyal Commenter Silver badge
      Stop

      NHS cards?

      I'm pretty sure they don't have the NHS in Australia. This is possibly one of the reasons that a lot of junior doctors over here go and work in the healthcare system over there for a year or two.

      1. Richard 81

        Ah

        It would help if I could read.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    ARRRRGH! The stupidity bugs me

    What the F can an iPad do that couldn't be done with other devices, just as capable, out there?

    Freeeeks!

    Stop this complete waste of public money. Christ, cheaper device exist, but No, its just cause it's an iPad.

    If these decision makers were my employees, I'd have serious doubts on their decision making capability. They clearly need to be challenged, not alone on the point of value from money in the public sector.

    1. RichyS
      Stop

      Really?

      What other devices, then?

      1. Adam Salisbury
        Grenade

        Anything....

        that encryption that isn't described by the industry as "worse than useless" or that has a 75% markup on it for staters

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Thumb Down

      lay of the cappuccinos...

      What can the iPad do? Be carried like a clipboard. That, along with the battery life and connectivity in this instance, is the killer feature. Many apoplectic commentards have cried about their being cheaper devices, all fail to name them. Windows Table edition? Heavy, stylus dependant input with a woeful to the point of being pointless battery performance. Netbooks? Poor performance, lower battery life, cumbersome. As I said, skip the cappuccino this afternoon, eh?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        @Matt / Narcicist

        It doesn't matter which other devices are available, or indeed if any are available - The iPad can't be sterilised and is designed to be touched, it therefore represents a rather brilliant way to transport MRSA, CDIF etc. all round the hospital.

        Add to that - it's not ruggidised, had no method to add authentication systems like smart cards, commonly used in hospitals and has limited (if any) medical software available.

        1. Doshu

          @Fraser: And THAT is what i call an argument

          Not some hissy fit about being tired of hearing ipad this or that.

          Well done, sir.

          Not to mention, where does he expect to find ruggedized, medical-caliber electronics cheaper than run of the mill commercials.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Thumb Down

          @Fraser

          Cannot be sterilized? You mean like the pen and paper solutions that are already in use? What about the computer terminals and other electronic equipment? Are you suggesting ECG machines regularly go through an autoclave? Or are the coated in a layer of biocides and wiped with disinfectants, in which case couldn't the iPad could well be treated (albeit perhaps impotently) in the same manner? It not being 'ruggidised' is strawman; with a cursory glance at the Apple store, there are at least two options there, with more available if one searches, as someone that works in a healthcare authority procurement team will. The "limited" medical apps; strawman again and actually there are quite a few medical apps available for iOS; http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=ipad+medical+apps. I accept, totally, the authentication gripes, but not an insurmountable one, which doesn't seem to have been a problem for other hospitals, military organisations, businesses, schools, et cetera. I have to ack the question; is it the fact that new tech is being proposed and introduced, or an Apple product that causes offence?

  5. Jimmy Floyd
    Thumb Down

    Chances of survival: slim

    Having just booted out of office a spin-obsessed UK government hell-bent on overspending and jumping on the latest bandwagon ... I can sympathise with Australia's situation at the moment.

    At least they had the good sense to off-load their Prime Minister when it looked like he was going the cost them the upcoming election (eh, Gordon?). If it doesn't work, expect the new party to start cutting off silly-bugger schemes like this forthwith.

  6. Warren G
    Joke

    Plus

    Knowing the sweltering temperature in most hospitals, they'll all overheat...

  7. Tigra 07
    FAIL

    Do it!

    Put all your confidential patient data on an app connecting the Ipads, revolutionise healthcare at the same time, and blow your budget!

    Downsides: Apple and the app author can see all the private information no doubt, can use it to target ads and leak it on the web, has more chance of being stolen, costs more than the competition and has less battery.

    And lets not forget they could remove the app the hospital is using at any time without warning (meaning bye bye to all patient data)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      FAIL

      WON'T YOU THINK OF THE CHILDREN!?

      Hey, do you want to know a secret? You don't have to get Apple's approval for an app if you are an enterprise developer, which this Healthcare trust will almost certainly be. You can deploy your own apps on the devices without going anywhere near the App Store, all with Apple's help too and without them seeing *any* of the data (not that they *can* see any of the data; that's Google's trick)! You lot seem to forget that the individuals concerned are generally much, MUCH, cleverer than you!

      Let's remember to think things through before ranting on the internets next time, eh?

      1. Tigra 07

        The children will steal the ipads

        So it's still okay to pay out for Ipads and then spend on apps and a new system rather than use the old one they have access to already?

        The whole point was that they're introducing something there is no need for and it will suck up a chunk of that hospitals budget, meaning healthcare quality could quite possibly go down.

        You gave yourself up as a fanboy when you had to attack Google there just because i pointed out the flaws in buying ipads for a hospital.

        Apple has a killswitch for apps too fanboy, they could lose their access to that app for any reason apple decides

        Google used the killswitch on an app, which acted maliciously, whereas apple refuses to allow an app onto the store if they don't like it for any reason.

        Theres protecting the consumer and there's being a git

        1. Anonymous Coward
          FAIL

          Ho hum, ad hominem...

          "So it's still okay to pay out for Ipads and then spend on apps and a new system rather than use the old one they have access to already?"

          "The whole point was that they're introducing something there is no need for and it will suck up a chunk of that hospitals budget, meaning healthcare quality could quite possibly go down."

          Translation: WON'T YOU THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!! What an absolute load of twaddle! What if, and here is an "outside of the box" idea, the current infrastructure is considerably out of date and isn't providing what the medical staff need? All you are crying about is the fact that iPad has been chosen and quite frankly it's pathetic.

          "You gave yourself up as a fanboy when you had to attack Google there just because i pointed out the flaws in buying ipads for a hospital." Quite! I mean HOW DARE I SPEAK UP FOR APPLE! A good ol' ad hominem 'attack'; the last resort of those that have *conceded the debate*. My 6 year old nephew does the same, except he call you smelly-poo-bum, which I suppose is a step up from that. So, you accept your argument is baseless then? Last time I checked, my HTC Legend doesn't run iOS 4 BTW and although I'd love to have it, TextMate is still only available for OSX, so my Windows PC won't run it...

          "Apple has a killswitch for apps too fanboy, they could lose their access to that app for any reason apple decides"

          "Google used the killswitch on an app, which acted maliciously, whereas apple refuses to allow an app onto the store if they don't like it for any reason." This whole "APP STORE IS TEH EVILS" is getting tired to be honest. Yes, they've rejected some apps using the reasoning of a toddler and, yes, some guidance from on high as to what is and what isn't acceptable would be a 'Good Thing'(TM), but they've been ridiculed into reversing the more asinine ones! It's Apples shop, and in the 2/3 years it been running Apple they've yet to pull the trigger, contrary to what all the individuals like you have asserted. They have also yet to have the issues that Android has had with piracy and malware, but that's another story. Face it mate, you are talking, erroneously, from out of your bum.

          "Theres protecting the consumer and there's being a git" There is also having a reasonable debate, and not resorting to name calling. Sarcasm is fine, attacking an idea is fine, being a little patronising, whilst not ideal, is OK, but resorting to name calling isn't, how ever minor it is (is it mods?). Any point that you had has been rendered totally irrelevant because you could behave in a grown up manner...

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Your bits are safe with me

        http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/27/wpa2_security/

        http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/04/google_talks_tories/

        http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/10/tory_nhs_plan/

        Can this be better than hanging the notes on the end of the bed that staff have access to and can add to? _Doctors' writing provides better encryption than SSL._ No authentication problems say compared to iPad: session time outs, passing the iPad on/around other staff. Who's typing is that? Who typed cl instead of ml???

        Everyone who has said this is a bad idea is correct. They didn't go and buy an iPad in order to work it out either. How clever are the "individuals concerned"?

        Battery life, recharging (doctors' day is longer than an iPads)

        Security

        Maintenance

        Network outages

        Patient identification (one bed, one pad of notes) (one iPad many patients)

        Liver and bacon ice cream anyone? No bad idea.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Black Helicopters

          Then we must all bow down to *your* superior intellect...

          Do you really, *really* truthfully and honestly, believe that these people are doing this on a whim? Do your really think that they haven't trialled it already?

          "Battery life, recharging (doctors' day is longer than an iPads)

          Security

          Maintenance

          Network outages

          Patient identification (one bed, one pad of notes) (one iPad many patients)"

          So what you are suggesting is that the medical staff should continue to use pen and paper? That's fine, but you should make it clear that this isn't because they chose iPad, but because they chose a digital solution to replace the existing analogue one? You do know that this is a *technology* site, right?

          1. Doug Glass
            Go

            Trends Setters

            Not exactly, but corporations and their ilk are fanatics in the use of trying new toys. Call it the "Fad of the Month Club".

  8. Ocular Sinister
    WTF?

    What a waste of cash

    Total waste of money. That said: can you wash a traditional pen(cil) and paper?

    1. Dante

      titlar

      You can't wash a paper pad but getting a new one wouldn't set you back £600ish or however much the iPad costs.

    2. Shinobi87

      @Ocular Sinister

      do you know how much the nhs spend on storage of paper records. Its a huge problem, this is why the NHS area I work for are spearheading an electronic record. saving mega millions and providing much more acurate data

  9. David McMahon
    Jobs Horns

    So Jobsie

    Is going to really become God?

    What are his views on abortion for example, I wonder will he block apps that help with abortion.

    Other problem, What if the docs quickly need to use Youtube (flash) to help with cerebral procedure?

    Oh and will it work for left handed people?

    can the iHate icon be set as default for me? Please? :)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Thumb Down

      Erm...

      Lest than a week in and the kids are already bored and causing trouble in the summer holidays...

      You don't actually have a clue, do you. Doctors tend not to perform really tricky procedures, such as neurological dissections, whilst on rounds, or refer to a video whilst performing an abortion? As for "Youtube (flash)" (Really?! It uses FLASH?! You're kidding, right..!), you are aware that there is <gufaw>an app for that</gufaw>! Has been since the original iPhone/iPod touch. It's imaginatively called 'The YouTube App'. Also, left handed people will be able to use it just fine, since it's not got the same flawed antenna design as the iPhone 4, which after all the fuss isn't *that* flawed, just if you hold it in a peculiar way. Anyhoo, hating anything is for losers, learn to love, makes the world a much happier place. Come to think of it, wouldn't the little troll icon be more fitting than the iHate icon?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Title

        While they shouldn't need a video to know how to perform a relatively common operation like an abortion; it's not uncommon to use to use some sort of teleconferencing setup to help doctors perform obscure operations in remote areas. I don't think they use Flash for that though.

        Note: in this case, remote can just mean that the relevant specialist is hundreds of miles away from the hospital with the needy patient.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Absolutely correct!

          But no-one it seems has suggested that iPad becomes the *only* piece of digital equipment that the medics use. There are plenty of solutions (with bigger screens, which is perhaps *more* of an issue, no?), and as you have already indicated, the won't reply on Flash for that (or Skype for that matter!). I was merely mocking the OP's myopic, asinine and baseless missive.

    2. Doug Glass
      Go

      Ahhhhhhhh yes....

      ... The Sacred J will rule the old folks homes. But then, being in the hospital business is just what he needs. Expect to see a suitable liver donar app that tests blood via the touch screen and phones home.

  10. guybles
    Flame

    Feel the rage

    There's a lot of hate in here, for something that looks like an experiment on the other side of the planet.

    But then again, the mere suggestion of anything Apple-flavoured does seem to stir the haters in the El Reg forums into shooting their mouths off without reading (or understanding) the original article.

    Perhaps some of the experts on here might like to try asking questions about the horrific IT kludge that's being forced on the NHS, rather than worry about how our antipodean cousins are choosing to invest/waste their cash.

    1. Aristotles slow and dimwitted horse

      @ Guybles...

      Why don't you enlighten us as to what YOU think you know about the "IT kludge" that is being forced on the NHS... I'll then correct you.

    2. Doug Glass
      Go

      And I Assume ...

      ... you've gotten the halo cleaning app The Sacred J provides for the true believers.

  11. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    NHS stuck in the M$/Windoze world, and closed standards

    It's all very well talking about using the ipad in the NHS, certainly many clinicians want it, but unfortunately due to the short sightedness of NHS management, it is doubtful that many, if not all, of the applications will even work on the ipads. Applications tend to be written for Microsoft Windows, and the web browser such as PACS and Choose and Book will only work on Internet Explorer. That would exclude the likes of Firefox and Safari.

    You will have a hard time convincing the NHS to use open standards for applications, especially the ones in the cloud...

    Someone should have been thinking open standards from the start, when specifications were drawn up, when projects were initiated.

    1. Juillen 1

      Windows?

      *Cough* PACS is DICOM imagery that works on far more than Windows. Works perfectly fine on all major variants of UNIX. Just the viewers you'll frequently see are windows based, as surprise surprise, that's what the hospital has the most experience with, so vendors tend to write software for it.

      With the current NHS deal with microsoft having lapsed, and the Oracle one in full force, a lot of apps are going web based (APEX is proving popular). And with web based apps.. Guess what.. The iPad works nicely with that.

      Some apps, granted, don't work away from Windows (at the moment), but that could change very quickly.

      Would be interesting to see what the trials say, and then see how that evolves with the Android based tablets too..

    2. dylan 4

      Stuck on Windoze? you would be surprised

      Many places historically "stuck on windoze" are looking at the iPad, and it's being driven both from the clinicians and from IT.

      I know of a couple of iPad trials ongoing in my local health department, which has always been Windows to the core. iPhones have already gained wide traction across the upper echelons of IT staff in the health department, and a number of specialized iPhone apps have sprung up for the increasing number of doctors using them. IPads are a logical extension now that people have realised that the sky doesn't fall in if you don't buy it from Bill.

      Our local police service (previously Windows centric) have also been using iPhones on patrol for the last year, and the avaiability of vehicle databases through an iPhone app has been credited with numerous arrests that otherwise wouldn't have happened.

      Open standards are great, but there's nothing like "consumerising" a device/standard to lower costs and increase acceptance. People may think iPhones and iPads are pricey, but compare them to the custom kit that for decades has been flogged for medical use and they are dirt cheap.

  12. Lottie

    Panasonic

    I just had a look at the panasonic mentioned in the article. I want one of them SO MCUH right now.

    Anyway, using something as proprietary as an iPad is a foolish idea. The trust would essentailly be at the mercy of the manufacturers for updates, tools, programs etc. With no chance to buy from a third party, the manufacturers could charge as much as they want. Don't like the price? Your patients die.

    1. dylan 4
      FAIL

      you want one HOW MCUH?

      The iPad more "at the mercy of the manufacturer" than a Panasonic tablet? Have you seen how many apps there are out there that take advantage of the iPads features? Vs how many apps available from third parties taking advantage of windows tablets features? That's hilarious.

      And have you seen how crippled devices like the panasonic can be by issues with custom drivers for their limited-run hardware on patch tuesday, and how infrequently such drivers are updated?

      As for the price, your panasonic tablet costs double what an iPad does. Broke one? Good luck picking up a replacement on the high street!

      Your head must be scrambled if you really believe all you wrote and want one SO MCUH!

    2. Aristotles slow and dimwitted horse
      FAIL

      @ Lottie... you are full of fail.

      I'm confused how you can level this accusation at Apple, when ultimately the same accusation can be directed at ANY supplier of ANY piece of equipment, no matter how non-proprietary.

      Also, can you explain how price has anything to do with patients dying? I presume you have seen a formal use-case for this device so you know exactly how it will be used in hospital? Presumably patients will be dying because the iPad will fail when displaying real time results from ECG sensors? Despite it not actually being able to interface with these diagnostic technologies?

      My guess is though that you forgot to engage your brain before posting and just saw an opportunity to bash a technology that is trying to do something different.

      I'm not sure how the iPad will be used in hospital, I'm not even sure how any required medical apps will get onto it, but I can see a fantastic use case in reducing paperwork and sharing consultation notes, updating patient records, internal and external emails and the like... and this ultra mobile use case is shared by many businesses - and not just medical ones. A lot of people have bashed the iPad as having no practical use. I agree to a point... but on the other hand, what are YOU going to do on a netbook PC whilst having a coffee in Starbucks that you can't also do on an iPad? Email - check. Web - check. Facebook - check. I doubt very much you will be trying to code a web application, or trying to remotely connect to your companies SAP system via a VPN. But then that's never been what the iPad is about.

      Apple has taken the risk and produced a device that requires minimal technical support to use, can be used by just about anyone with an IQ above 50, and is actually fun. I know few people who have actually bought one, but those that have - love it.

      I was resistant to the iPhone for a long time, but now I have actually used one for a month, I wouldn't give it up - it is a fantastic piece of kit.

  13. Peter 39
    Thumb Up

    a proven idea

    Apple has actually done this before, way long ago. Apple's other problems at the time meant that this didn't go forward but the trial showed very positive results.

    It's not the price of the device that matters. In the case of the iPad, it's actually quite reasonable. What matters is the improvement in medical outcomes, or "quality of care". For example, preventing a severe case of adverse drug interaction is a great benefit to the patient and saves a lot of care and money. The list goes on and on.

    Kudos to Victoria for doing this.

  14. David Pickering
    Thumb Down

    You cannot be serious..

    why ipads? why now? what possible requirements list does the ipad meet? secure? durable? fit for purpose? battery life? environmental conditions? what about getting data on/off? integration? itunes? hahaha.

    is this just some highlevel muppet who got sucked into the hype?

    appalling.

    1. Maliciously Crafted Packet

      Yes thats right...

      Windows and Android-vapourware tablets are much more suited to the task.

      Virus free, un-crackable with not a chance of user/patient data being fed back to the all devouring ad broker mother company.

      Nice clunky fragmented interface or if you like the super new Windows 7 which has been specially designed for err, tablet computing.

      And, wait for it, with oooh "Approximately 6 hours of battery life" according to the Panasonic Toughbook blerb.

      Way to go man... way to go!

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Meets all of those

      We're trialling one now in my practice and so far it's dream. It meets all of those criteria that you imply it wouldn't and it gets you closer to the patient. There is nothing like sitting down next to the patient and going over their clinical data on the iPad. In addition, I wouldn't put any of my patient data anywhere near a windows machine. Despite all of their security measures our University department has emailed viruses on more than a few occasions but those of us on Apple kit of course have not had a problem. Rail against Apple all you like but if you just want to get the job done with a low cost of ownership and excellent tech support, you can't knock them.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Err...

        "...Rail against Apple all you like but if you just want to get the job done with a low cost of ownership and excellent tech support, you can't knock them...."

        I have to challenge that Apple is expensive and have very poor technical support, their general customer support is even worse - I speak from experience, both personally and from several people at work,

        If the iPad does the job, that's fine, but this is a medical device designed to be touched and you say that you show patients their data on the device (implying they are very close to it). This would seem like an excellent way to contaminate it, how do you keep it sterile?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re Err...

          Have to disagree on cost as if for example you compare a MacBook with a similar machine, say a Sony VAIO the purchase price is much the same. As they need very little support the TCO is much lower than when we had Windows PCs & we buy a 3 year warranty with each machine for a fraction of what say PC World would charge (not I know perhaps the best comparison!). As for tech support we now have a dozen or so Macs & many colleagues have them as they are pretty common in medical circles. Our experience is that Apples tech support is frankly stellar. We have direct access to level 2 tech support but when travelling, anywhere with an Apple store can provide help if needed. The only time I have needed it seriously was when a motherboard went on my MacBook on a flight to Seattle & their local store had the board replaced in just over two hours. YMMV of course!

          With regard to sterility we only use the iPad at consultations so it doesn't go into an environment where it has to be sterile. Clinically clean is fine and all you can achieve with any device.... I'll bet you can't autoclave a Panasonic Toughbook <g>

    3. Doug Glass
      Go

      Ya Think ...

      ... nurses, doctors, orderlies, and etc. wear those cool colorful scrubs because that's all they can buy?

  15. Shinobi87
    Thumb Down

    dont forget Motion c5's

    we use these accross several sites for Electronic data capture in ward areas they also look alot better than the "tough books" and the new C5V has much better specs than the old ones. Doubt Ipads will take off

    also @Richard 81:

    "Also, if they were to start using tablets, shouldn't they have a slot for those NHS access cards?"

    no, you can get them on most MCA based devises. BUT! i wouldnt really call it a secure login, as cards can be stolen and dupped. we use a mix of encryption software and AD authentication.

  16. Daniel Harris 1
    Thumb Down

    The title is required, and must contain letters and/or digits.

    Is it possible to deploy your own software legally on the iPad? Don't all releases need to go through the public App store?

    I don't know how this works with other operating systems such as Windows Mobile etc, but seems with most new devices the possibility for a company to develop their own in house software for most mobile devices has been taken away.

    I'm sure there are some apps out there that could be semi-useful, but as said can probably done on another, cheaper, more purpose built device.

  17. Paul 172
    Alert

    NHS, too?

    iSoft were (still are?) developing an iPhone/iPad interface for their Lorenzo product...

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Flame

    OK, OK, we get it...

    Yes, we get it - The Reg hates Apple.

    Grow up and move on, your obsession is unhealthy (pun intended)...

  19. Nic 3
    Stop

    WOW! Calm down dears

    A) iPad has a battery life that will happily go through 12 hours

    B) As someone mentioned above, at the enterprise level you don't need to go through App Store / iTunes so the software vendor could quite happily create what ever level of security they required.

    C) This is not our NHS. This is down under.

    I am not saying it will work as a concept but at least I am willing to look into the facts rather than a rather dull anti-apple rant.

  20. Rolf Howarth
    FAIL

    Who cares about the iPad?

    "The stupidity about getting an iPad... what can it do that you can't do on other devices... waste of money... jumping on the latest bandwagon"

    The interesting point isn't want Victoria are doing, but the reaction of people on techno blogs like this. Every day, all round the world, public bodies such as hospitals, ambulance services, police forces, government departments, the military etc. place orders for millions of devices of all kinds. A tiny percentage of them are made by Apple, so what on earth is all the fuss about?

    "Ooh ooh look, big scandal, Nether Whingeing Health Authority just bought a load of Casio DT-X30 PDAs! How stupid of them, are they retarded or what, everyone knows they should have bought the Datalogic Pegaso or Elbit RPDA-57 instead, the DT-X30's only got one RS232 port, how shortsighted is that?"

    Honestly, who gives a toss what device Victoria bought?

  21. John A Blackley

    Different country, different problems

    In the United States, doctors have such status at hospitals that it's not possible to prevent them from attaching their iPads to the network and using them to download charts and access email.

    When faced with the inevitable, one must simply make accommodation.

    1. Doug Glass
      Paris Hilton

      True, So True ...

      ... and boy do they sometimes make the most rediculous requests: "I'd like it to link to the computer in my BMW so it'll be running and warmed up when I'm ready to leave".

      "Well what time are you leaving?"

      "Oh I'm never sure, just program it to start 10 minutes before I go off shift".

      Paris because, well, it fits.

  22. Anonymous Coward
    Coffee/keyboard

    Germs and nasty things

    I'm thinking the lack of keyboard theoretically makes these less likely to be a germ-farms (through having less places to hide, and being easier to clean), which is obviously important in these days of flesh-eating viruses and given this device will be transported all around the hospital in the hands of the docs.

    Though given the state mine gets into with finger grease, I'm not convinced the screen-only option will be any more hygenic.

    Besides...aren't we not allowed to use radio-emitting equipment in some wards due to the "sensitive equipment" therein? Do I sense a conspiracy by hospitals to deny us the use of phones and other radio equipment for some reason? And will the jobs-reality-distortion fields prevents such interference?

    Lets hope this isn't some NHS scam to grab themselves iPads on the fiddle. Which is what we're all thinking.

    Dirty keyboards...ewww.

    1. Shinobi87

      @Anonymous Coward

      thats why intel developed the MCA standard. any device that follows it must be sealed, infection proof and have a handle for easy carying. as part of our deployment all devices are cleaned before being returned to a charging dock (which can be connected to a monitor keyboard etc.

      and in terms of radios. yea it is abit of rubbish, Dr's have used pagers and mobiles for years in wards, doesnt really cause any problems. the new official line in alot of places is that no phones means less disruption to sick patients etc! hell we have wifi in most of the hospitals here.

      and again this is nothing to do with the old NHS lol!

  23. loopy lou
    Thumb Up

    Battery life not an issue

    As an iPad owner, this makes sense to me:

    First, the iPad is effectively instantly on/off (well suspended, but why would you ever shut it down completely?). I doubt anyone is going to be using it solidly for 12 hours.

    Second, presumably they will mainly access web apps with it. No local data, no windows to get confused with, nothing to tinker with. Being so restricted is actually a bonus for this case - its just a portable browser window.

  24. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    iPads for hospitals: is this a good idea?

    No, because the iPad overheats like a marshmallow in a blast furnace.

    Not to mention a shape that'll give you arthritic fingers in a matter of weeks and WiFi that doesn't work.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Shhh...

      Have you used one, or just heard about this issue? You do realise that the extemely few complainants are whining that it over heats *in direct sunlight* (as most computing devices would do)? As for the arthritic fingers rubbish, doesn't this affect iPhone and Android users too?

  25. Henry Wertz 1 Gold badge

    Depends what they are using it for

    I mean, some heavy duty tablet that can be steam-cleaned, etc. etc., is possibly so costly an IPad would be cheap by comparison; honestly, I figure IPad versus perhaps a *slightly* cheaper tablet is like a drop in the bucket. I think IPad is highly overrated, but *shrug* really would not lose sleep over using IPad as opposed to some other tablet.

    But, I would not want my medical data piped over wireless! So if they are using it as a diagnostic aid, that's one thing. If they are using it to update and read my chart, I wouldn't want that at all!

  26. Peter X

    title

    I would've thought it would be cheaper to just bolt lots of web-terminals to the walls of the hospital -- given that the design wouldn't have to be as super slim as an iPad, and given that it wouldn't need any batteries (which really, is going to make it a lot easier to manage long term anyway), it should work out cheaper... even if you need more of them so that there's always one in easy reach. Plus they'd be less nickable!

  27. Nev
    Thumb Up

    Gadget Madness

    Health Authorities love spunking tax cash on useless overpriced gadgets.

    Just look at those special, over priced "Clean Me!" keyboard that were installed in some UK trusts.

    They now get cleaned as regularly as a normal keyboards would (never) but with a nice LED to say it's not been cleaned.

    How much were they each...?

    Kerching!!!

  28. Version 1.0 Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    The Administrator wants one

    Simple as that really - can I get an app that goes "ping"?

  29. MSP

    MSP

    California may have been first But a hospital on Taiwan is using i-pad routinely

    for patient information in detail on theoir condition tests radiligy etc

  30. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Not for my Doctor

    His inscrutable scrawl could not be faithfully reproduced on an ipad.

    And I can see the towering stacks of ipads on each floor taking place of the paper patient "charts" even now.

    Wireless charging stations in all the patient's room to be billed back to the insurance companies???

  31. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Title? What title?

    1. It is generally considered unwise to source an item from a single monopoly supplier.

    2. They are desirable, and will be stolen.

    3. They cannot be sterilised.

    4. For security reasons, they should really only be a dumb, WiFi connected terminal, providing an interface to mainframe software. There are simpler, cheaper ways of providing this.

    1. Aristotles slow and dimwitted horse
      Stop

      Stop talking sense...

      It's all about kudos and cool.

    2. MD Rackham

      Oh c'mon...

      1. Name a portable device that meets your criteria and has multiple sources. The Panasonic people have mentioned is a sole-source device, even if it is Windows based.

      2. If it's not desirable, the staff won't use it and the money is wasted. I've seen staff revolts kill several large medical IT projects, so don't underestimate the value of "desirable."

      3. True, but neither can the keyboards on the roll-around PCs currently in use at my local hospital. I suspect there are issues with the iPad not working with gloved hands too.

      4. Who says they're doing anything other than this with the iPad? Using it as a way to get to web-based apps seems the most obvious approach. And what are the simpler, cheaper ways? Roll-around PCs are a complete failure as they need to be plugged in and there is rarely enough space in the room to roll the cart anywhere near the patient. And they are definitely not cheaper on a one-for-one basis.

  32. fortheloveofgod
    FAIL

    Apple's sky in the pie

    I wish you lot would stop talking about Apple's newly created Sanitry products...

    Don't see the point in having over-inflated RRP priced Apple products in public sector lines of work and you just know it'll blow up on the day the warranty expires (like most Apple products).

  33. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Joke

    Panasonic Toughbook

    Looks like it will make a convenient emergency handball mitten.

    And not bad for back handing the occasional drunk *allegedly* found in UK ER's on a Friday night.

    1. Gareth Gouldstone
      Happy

      US -> UK

      We don't have handball mittens, nor Emergency Rooms in the UK.

      More likely to have cricket bats and Accident and Emergency.

  34. Anonymous Coward
    Pint

    Battery life?

    Only I've know nurses remain up for 40 hours.

    Damm that women could drink.

    Hope it can disinfected with Alcohol. Something tells me there going to be disinfected a lot.

  35. Marky hearts
    Pint

    Monitoring Devices or Pen and Paper

    The real focus of IT in healthcare should be in direct monitoring of the patient, using beside devices much the same as you find in AE departments nowadays. That way, you can have a central collection point for data, and you can sit and watch your patients vital signs (observations such as blood pressure, O2 levels, temperature) and these are recorded into a database.

    Currently, on non AE wards observations are recorded at most every 15 minutes and it requires an auxillary nurse to go from patient to patient with monitoring devices, run checks and then update their notes at the foot of the bed. Introducing automated monitoring would save a huge amount of time, provide an adequate overview of the patient's progress, and allow data to be stored and retrieved on a central database.

    Why isn't it done already? Mainly because there currently aren't monitoring devices that are unintrusive to patients - most people don't like having wires stuck to them. Unless they are in AE of course....

    But if you'd prefer not to develop less intrusive monitoring devices and would prefer to give your doctors ipads (I can see a logic in that - it makes you seem like father christmas) then you are likely going to be using an input device for more impressionistic notes than automated observations. Funnily enough I''ve just been evaluating impressionistic data input devices for a healthcare setting, and concluded that the top three devices are:

    1) Pen and paper

    2) Dictaphone or telephone secretary

    3) PC

    Strangely enough, these are exactly the methods that have been in use in hospitals for the last 20 years or longer.

    The optimum method is to use pen and paper, it's simple! If there's an issue with data management then get an ward administrator to type up salient notes into a PC front end database. Or buy a network OCR scanner for each ward (cost around 2-3K) so that notes can be parsed automatically (assuming that people don't mind writing everything in BLOCK capitals)

    ipads and smartphones and iphones are okay, historically windows phones have been used a fair amount in wards too - but these are expensive devices and you have maintenance costs and the fact that they are rather too attractive to the ward magpies.

    Alternatives include the Anoto pen, which is used extensively in healthcare settings. It uses a paper that is printed with tiny dots that tell the pen where on the page it is - and this is especially good for forms. However, the pens cost around £300 each and require looking after.

    The point is, when people spend all their time looking after patients, at the end of the day they don't feel like looking after IT equipment.

  36. inexplicable
    Headmaster

    Cases?

    I'm very confused that people on here keep on about the form factor of the device and it not being easily sanitised etc etc. Surely a conversation like this would take place:

    Aus Med: We're looking to deploy several hundred iPads in a clinical environment, assuming we can't use one off the shelf (http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/04/30/commuter-and-defender-rugged-ipad-cases-by-otterbox-coming-this-summer/) could you make us a case that allows us to clean the device and protects it from everyday knocks? If you could also add a handle so it's easier to carry that'd be super.

    Case Manufacturer: Yes.

    I'd be more interested if Victoria are planning to develop their own touchscreen apps for the device as they could well provide a solid base for other hospitals to develop their own. I hope they're not just planning on using Safari to access kludgy web applications (which I'm only too familiar with at my own workplace).

  37. Sonny Jim
    Headmaster

    The medical staff should continue to use pen and paper?

    In one word, yes.

    I'll use a few more to explain. I've worked in the Air traffic management sector and I have seen first hand how the lowly a block of wood, paper and pen can beat millions of £'s worth of equipment, it's called a 'Flightstrip':

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_progress_strip

    When a plane enters the ATC area, it gets written on a bit of paper and stuck to a bit of wood. This is then passed to the controller handling the flight. Once the aircraft has left the controllers area, they will physically pass this block of wood down the line to the next controller. No bugs, power issues, virus, network outages will ever stop this from working.

    The operators have all of these expensive, complicated systems to track aircraft, but even in this day and age, most ATC centres will use flightstrips, I'd expect something as safety critical as a hospital to realise that sometimes, simple is better.

    1. MD Rackham

      Storage?

      Do you have to store a record of all the traffic control decisions and observations for 30+ years?

      I thought not. I believe you do keep copies of radio transmissions, but I'm not sure for how long, and suspect that they're all stored digitally now.

      The expense of paper records is the storage and retrieval costs. And in the litigious US, overly-detailed record keeping and being able to locate said records quickly is extremely important for doctors to defend against (often spurious) malpractice claims. And for patients when the docs do screw up.

  38. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Thumb Down

    Buying the hardware should be the *last* concern

    Seriously while iPads are expensive by netbook standards they will be *peanuts* to the price of the various ruggedised gadgets different vertical markets (FedEx, Field repair staff, even drinks machine service people)

    It's the whole *system* that delivers benefits, and how well the back end uses its features.

    Trouble is the iPad does not seem to have many built in peripherals to help in this market as standard.

    *so* when you factor *all* those bits in (and of course their integration), and the deterioration in ability to be sterilized being stylish may turn out to be a *very* poor investment (dual internal mono speakers output through 3 narrow sound tubes. Can you say dirt and bacteria trap?) .

    Marky hearts points are well made. I think the expression is "Management by exception." But to do so you don't want to substitute a human taking readings and putting them on a chart with tapping into a box, you want the human *out* of the loop entirely for routine data gathering.

    BTW IMHO The UK NHS manages to kill a hell of a lot of people with misheard/misread/misapplied drugs every year. I'd expect *any* hospital laptop wotsit (whatever you want to call it) to have bar code reader (and possibly) RFID as *standard*.

    I'd also prefer *no* personal data *ever* be kept on such a device, but that assumes adequate *secure* bandwidth *all* the time. More likely it would require something like Truecrypt, ideally with automated key management, using 2 factor (card + finger print or card + pin) authentication. At end of shift any unsent file updates are sent to the server and the personal files zeroed.

    As a concept I believe these systems (with *whatever* terminal device you use) have *huge* potential to allow a smaller team to support the same sized patient population with *better* care than at present. The devils in the detail.

    Amateurs buy hardware. Professionals buy *systems*.

    Full disclosure. I worked on solid state heart recorders (black box for humans). They don't save your life but they make the coroners job easier.

  39. SavM
    WTF?

    hmmm

    What a lot of people may not know if that dell where working with a hospital on a slipstreamed windows based touchscreen that had 16+ hours battery life, full wifi with direct access to hospital records, with multiple logons and workflows similar to crm. that was 2 1/2 years ago, it was in trial stages at that point dont know what happened since then. but as for ipad's, please it's like saying i only swim clean water then diving into raw sewage. i do have an iphone as yes it's a good enough device for what i use it for, outside my iphone usefulness i'll grab my laptop or mac depending on what i'm doing.

    The phrase is "fit for purpose", in this instance the ipad doesn't live upto it however as a pretty mantle peice orniment that makes visitors go ooooo and aaaahhh maybe (anyone with any sense is likely to say "nice digital photo frame, wheres your real web access. you know the one you can use flash with?") , but not in a hospital!

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