iPad for Business Use (Charting in the Field)?

[MoonshineXXX]

Hey Guys,

I’ve got a question about the performance capabilities of the iPad for use in the field… My wife works in home health care and travels to client homes, rest homes, etc. to check on patients and do assessments. Part of the assessment process is getting data from the client or the client’s family – filling out a standard form and noting anything out of the norm or special needs. She currently uses her work-issue laptop for this duty but it has crappy battery life and is heavy, and she sometimes has to revert to pen and paper to get the info which means she has to enter the info again once she’s back in the office!

We have an iPad at home, which she loves, so she wants to be able to use an iPad at work as well to aid in the charting duties, etc. With all that being stated, what type of app or functionality is available for the iPad for her business to be able to use it for this function? Her boss said he would make the purchase and also buy a small printer that she could take along as well, so any suggestions for what she needs (printer suggestions are welcomed as well!) will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[itsmedave]

She'd need a printer that's AirPrint capable. As for a form, I'd imagine that wouldn't be too difficult to create in iWork and save back and forth between a mac and the iPad.


Here are a few of the models that are AirPrint capable
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/ipad_accessories/printers

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[Austin]

A few of my clients use Ipads for charting on their electronic medical records. Their software vendor has an Ipad app that they use for checking their schedules and making rounds at the hospital. Check with the software vendor to see if they offer Ipad support and applications.

Moreover, these doctors can also use their Iphones if they forget their pads. Really cool stuff.

 

[itsmedave]

Another thing I'd recommend is a great case. Every iPad I've owned has had either an otterbox or a griffin defender.

 

[mdunn]

An iPad is not an enterprise mobility device, which is what you are looking for. And what I did in a previous life. there are a number of reasons why it's not really suitable. Which isnt to say that it won't work though.

After using consumer devices in this kind of way once, people always end up back with the tool fit for task.

Send me a PM if you want some suggestions etc.

 

[professorchaos]

We are just beginning to build out a VDI infrastructure that will allow us to abstract application delivery from user end points. It is very, very cool stuff. Until we do, our clinicians cannot use our EMR on a BYOD.

 

[Kentos]

Not to be confused with BYOB?



To the OP, good luck! A free iPad is a heck of an incentive.

 

[professorchaos]

Alas, no ...

 

[StillShaving]

Is that a MS Windows app, meaning an equivalent iOS app that integrates to the same database may not exist? Or is it a browser based app, accessible from different devices. I expect the performance of the iPad is more than adequate and 3G/LTE would provide good connectivity. It would be more about her preferences for data entry and display size.

In the short term, the easiest fix may be to get an aftermarket laptop battery with higher capacity, if the battery has been in use for a while, its charging capacity may have dropped a lot, making it less of a portable device.

 

[smalltank]

my dad works in the medical world..plenty of his co workers use ipads within their companies