Risk managers evaluate and coordinate activities with all departments. Through their experience, they have identified those departments, which have the greatest risk of liability. One department that is consistently identified is Labor and Delivery. An incident occurring in the Labor and Delivery department has the potential to result in large legal awards. Indeed, up to 90% of malpractice suits that emerge from Labor and Delivery involve the fetal heart tracing “strip”. Litigation can have dramatic effects on everyone involved and it is the risk manager who looks for those opportunities to reduce the potential for loss.
A new technology has emerged that will help Obstetricians, Critical Care Physicians and Cardiologists reduce liability within their respective practice. Risk managers recognize AirStripTM products as a way to proactively implement a system that protects hospitals and the doctors that serve them. Our family of products enables risk managers to be proactive in reducing the liability for their facility, employees and physicians when it comes to activities in the Labor and Delivery, Critical Care and Cardiology environments.
AirStrip ObserverTM is a robust new software application that allows physicians to remotely view real-time waveform and patient data on their PDAs or Smart phones; regardless of physician location (i.e. anywhere they have a cell phone connection).
With the JACHO 2005 National Patient Safety Goals focusing on “improving the effectiveness of communication among caregivers” as well as reducing “sentinel events”, AirStrip ObserverTM is being introduced to the market at the perfect time. With AirStrip ObserverTM, communication and decisions can be made immediately which can result in less delay in treatment and minimize risk to patients.
Physicians and nurses are excited about this new technology. It is a first in building a quality communication network between physicians and nurses in the care and treatment of their patients. Quality communication, care and treatment are all major components to reducing liability in healthcare. With the advent of AirStrip ObserverTM, the steps to reducing liability in all areas of medicine will make tremendous strides.
AirStrip ObserverTM is in no way intended to remove care from the bedside; nor is it intended to keep doctors out of the hospital. Rather, this software application is indicated for use by physicians who need to stay connected with their patients even though the demands of their day necessitate their periodic absence from the hospital. In a day and age when improved patient care, risk management and decreased medical liability are of paramount importance, AirStrip ObserverTM delivers.