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102 ASC Quality & Accreditation 10 Key Apps for Nurses By Mary Rechtoris 1. NurseGrid: is app is a personal schedul- ing and communication tool for nurses. e app uses a custom algorithm that remem- bers users' most common shi times to speed schedule creation. e app launched a calendar share feature at the end of July. is option lets nurses share their NurseGrid schedule with third party apps, including Google Calendar and Outlook. 2. HipaaBridge: is application is a HIPAA- compliant text messaging tool for nurses. e app has a FaceTime-like feature that allows pro- viders to give consults and patient assessments. HipaaBridge provides secure message solutions that will facilitate easy-to-use communication that complies with regulations. 3. Cortext: Imprivata's new app allows nurses to send secure messages to fellow nurses, phy- sicians and patients both inside and outside of the hospital. e app can be readily used on any mobile device, enabling efficient commu- nication between healthcare professionals. e time-saving app has been reported to save each clinician an average of 45 minutes each day, which will enhance patient care. 4. CareEvent: is application allows nurses to view patient alarms and provides a real-time snapshot of a patient's vital signs. Nurses can also share a patient's condition by sharing their recent alert history, informing physicians about the validity and priority of the alarm. 5. DICOM Medical Selfie: Medical Selfie en- ables both healthcare professionals as well as patients to readily send photos without secu- rity issues with their iPhone while maintaining HIPAA compliance and speeding patient-pro- vider communication. 6. Wellzilla: is application enables nurses to order more than 40,000 discounted medi- cal supplies. e application also has a patient management system. Nurses can input and manage all their patients through the app, track their previous orders as well as share patient profiles with other nurses. 7. Davis Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests: is app aims to enhance patient care by giving nurses access to more than 400 updated diagnostic test descriptions. e app provides information about how the test works, how to correctly analyze the results and how to best prepare and instruct the patient. 8. IDdx: Infectious Disease Queries: is da- tabase app and gives users access to informa- tion on more than 250 illnesses, categorized by 39 epidemiological factors as well as 16 world regions. e app added new features in January, including Ranked Disease and Weighted Find- ings. Ranked Disease allows users to si trough the list of diseases returned from a query of cases. Weighted Findings color codes how fre- quently a finding is used to describe a disease in 12 primary findings. 9. Tiny Tastes: is app is great for pediatric nurses who aim to help children eat better. Tiny Tastes inspires children who don't have an ap- petite to eat along with the app, as well as allows nurses to track patients' food intake at home. 10. DICOM Viewer: is mobile viewer allows nurses to view X-rays as well as mammograms and other medical images on their iPhone or tablet. DICOM enables nurses to readily view images anywhere, anytime while maintaining proper security and compliance. n Running an ASC is tough. Our experts can help. Communication Distractions Derail Patient Handoffs in ASCs: 7 Key Notes By Brandon Howard C ommunication errors are a key factor in what can commonly derail patient hand- offs in the ASC, according to investigators at the Cooper Medical School of Rowan Univer- sity in Camden, N.J. Here are seven key notes, according to the report: 1. Researchers collected audio recordings from 80 ASC handoffs over a six-week period. 2. Distractions and secondary task activity was documented from the audio recordings, and the handoffs were timed for completion of patient care and information exchange. 3. Forty percent of handoffs were associated with communication distraction. 4. Information exchange times were significantly longer in the presence of distractions: 2.3 minutes as opposed to 1.5 minutes. 5. Handoffs with communication distractors were rated lower in overall quality. 6. Nineteen percent of the instances, monitors and equipment were the most common distractors. 7. Direct patient care, transient staff and patient communication were the next most common dis- tractors, at 16 percent each. n BECKER'S SPINE REVIEW E-WEEKLY subscribe today free • educational • up-to-date Visit beckersorthopedicandspine.com or call (800) 417-2035 Stay updated on the latest news, trends and business concepts for spine surgeons and practices