HALIFAX: The IWK Health Centre in Halifax is taking steps to alleviate the stress experienced by patients and caregivers seeking treatment in the Emergency Department (ED). Researchers at the Health Centre have piloted and developed a new digital tool known as the ‘ED Patch’.
The tool, officially named the “Emergency Department Patient Activated Transition to Care at Home” (ED Patch), was created to actively involve patients and their companions in documenting accurate details of their emergency visit, according to officials.
Improving Information Retention and Transition
The ED Patch allows patients or caregivers to use a smartphone or tablet to record key information, such as symptoms, tests performed, and treatment procedures, as digital notes. These notes are then emailed to the patient or caregiver.
Researchers state that this feature provides an easily referenceable record that can facilitate discussions with other physicians and streamline the process for subsequent follow-up care and referrals.
The primary goal of the ED Patch is to solve the common problem where patients often struggle to recall the instructions or treatment information provided by doctors. Initial reports indicate that the clarity provided by this tool significantly eases the minds of both patients and their caregivers.
