Improve Patient Data Visibility With Zebra Mobile Computers

“Having access to real-time patient data allows providers to make informed decisions at the bedside,” McKnight-Young says. “Whether it’s checking lab results before administering medication or verifying allergies, this level of instant access ensures patient safety and supports clinical judgment.”

For example, before nurses administer insulin, they must review the most recent blood glucose levels to determine the correct dosage. Outdated or inaccurate information could lead to an incorrect dose, potentially harming the patient.

Zebra’s mobile devices housing integrated electronic health records (EHRs) allow nurses to instantly check the latest test results, ensuring they deliver the right treatment at the right time.

Beyond medication administration, patient early warning system safety alerts — for sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and cardiac dysrhythmias, for example — are crucial in providing faster intervention for a decompensating patient, improving outcomes.

Early warning systems can alert bedside clinicians that a patient may be deteriorating, allowing for quicker response time in contacting collaborating care teams for treatment or upgrading to the necessary level of care for closer monitoring.

Click the banner below to effectively use technology that helps providers deliver better care at a lower cost.

Streamlining Clinical Workflows with Integrated Mobile Devices

Zebra’s mobile computing solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing hospital IT systems and EHRs, enabling efficient and accurate documentation.

These mobile devices allow healthcare professionals to perform several tasks, eliminating the need for multiple handheld tools and improving overall workflow efficiency. Zebra devices can dock in a cradle system and provide the look and feel of desktop functionality without the heft of a Workstation on Wheels.

“Many hospitals use separate devices for barcode medication administration, secure voice and text communication, image capture, specimen collection and documentation,” McKnight-Young says. All of these functions can be consolidated into a single mobile computer, reducing device fatigue and allowing nurses to focus on patient care instead of managing multiple tools.

One of the key benefits of this streamlined approach is workflow automation and consolidation.

Zebra integrates with EHRs by providing superior scanning that supports workflows from third parties, including smart pump programming, blood transfusion and administering breast milk.

In one Midwestern hospital, Zebra devices are used for scanning during blood transfusions alongside the integrated EHR system, eliminating the need for verification by a second nurse. The use of barcode scanning, which cannot be tampered with during the process, ensures adherence to the “seven rights” — right person, right medication, right dose, right time, right route, right reason and right documentation — thus maintaining patient safety. “This eliminates the need for manual double-checking, reducing clinician workload while enhancing accuracy,” McKnight-Young explains. “It’s a great example of how technology can improve safety while also saving valuable time.”

EXPLORE: Here are 13 ways AI enhances healthcare operations, patient care and treatments.

Reducing Equipment Search Time With Real-Time Asset Tracking

Another significant challenge in healthcare settings is locating critical medical equipment such as bladder scanners, EKG machines and vein finders.

Searching for these tools wastes valuable time that could be spent on patient care. One hospital placed a locator app on the Zebra handheld and, coupled with a real-time location service, used it to find equipment and people.

Zebra’s real-time tracking capabilities rely on RTLS and RFID technologies to pinpoint the exact location of medical devices.

McKnight-Young recalled her personal experience as a nurse having to call multiple departments to locate a bladder scanner, a process that could take precious minutes.

“With Zebra’s mobile device, clinicians can simply search for the equipment on the device and locate it instantly,” she says. “This small change has a huge impact on efficiency, ensuring that patients receive care faster.”

Enhancing Staff Safety With Built-In Security

Workplace violence and staff safety are growing concerns in healthcare, particularly for home health nurses and clinicians working in high-risk environments.

Zebra’s mobile devices are equipped with programmable buttons, including a red button that can function as a duress button that allows staff to discreetly signal for help in an emergency.

“The device allows healthcare workers to send an alert if they feel unsafe,” McKnight-Young says. “This is particularly crucial for home health nurses who visit patients’ homes alone.

When the button is pressed in an emergency, the nurse’s location is immediately visible and help can be dispatched.

Zebra’s mobile computing solutions also play a key role in long-term operational improvements, McKnight-Young says.

The devices are used not only for direct patient care but also for supply chain management, environmental services and patient transport, creating a connected hospital ecosystem.

From McKnight-Young’s perspective, Zebra’s mobile technology offers a future-ready solution that keeps pace with the healthcare industry’s evolving demands.

“The goal is to empower clinicians with the right tools to do their jobs efficiently and safely,” she says. “We are redefining how healthcare is delivered.”

Brought to you by: