Gentiva Health Services to Cure Paperwork Blues with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

Gentiva Health Services Case Study

Because Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is a superset of the Windows XP Professional operating system, it addresses issues that were previously difficult and expensive for Gentiva to solve with traditional mobile devices. For example, Windows XP can protect patient information security and privacy by offering robust, industry–standard security and encryption features such as the Encrypted File System (EFS), and public key infrastructure (PKI) and virtual private network (VPN) features and protocols.

Also, because the Tablet PC is a powerful personal computer and as such includes support for USB devices, additional peripherals can be added easily:

• Digital cameras for patient identification and wound care documentation photos
• Data backup devices for field-based, automated backups
• Color printers for producing patient education materials

Benefits

The Tablet PC contains features that address and resolve key difficulties Gentiva experienced with its previous point–of–care devices, PDAs, and even traditional laptops:

• Operating system—Windows XP Tablet PC Edition includes the full set of capabilities of Windows XP, plus pen–based computing enhancements.
• Handwriting–recognition technology—Microsoft Ink is truly advanced handwriting recognition, with the ability to translate handwriting to text for use in other programs and even the capacity to search handwritten notes.
• Design—All variations of the Tablet PC are truly lightweight and portable, while maintaining the same power, speed, and capacity of a traditional notebook computer.

Fosters Higher Worker Satisfaction

Gentiva realizes that to recruit and retain valuable caregivers, it must diminish the paperwork and allow the caregivers to focus on the reason they became health care workers in the first place: to take care of the patients.

Gentiva has unveiled to its health care workers early prototypes of the Ink–enabled application that will automate much of the paperwork they currently must fill out manually. Early response is extremely positive.

"The nurses have only one question: when can we have this [Tablet PC-based program] in the field?" says Matt Rebeck, Principal Technical Specialist of Gentiva Health Services. "It was amazing! Even though the nurses each had varying levels of computer skills, they were all able to use the pen to interact with the program successfully right away."

Increases Business Productivity

Initial response from the business ranks within Gentiva confirms that switching from a traditional desktop or notebook computer to the Tablet PC not only happens smoothly but also immediately begins to pay off. Says Rebeck, "The Tablet PC is the obvious choice to replace notebooks and desktop PCs for our information workers." The lightweight, compact design makes traveling with the computer easier, whether it’s being carried onto an airplane or along the hallways of the corporate office–no more lugging a seven–pound laptop and balancing it on a knee while trying to type in notes.

In addition, clear benefits exist for the field worker.

"The freedom and mobility of a pen–based tablet computer is particularly suited to home healthcare–it’s a natural transition from paper," says Mike Hannah, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Information Technology for Gentiva Health Services. "Microsoft Ink performs better than any previous handwriting–recognition solutions we have tested."

Facilitates Cost Savings and Revenue Increases

Gentiva finds that both its large staff of home healthcare workers and its corporate personnel are excited about the Tablet PCs, and the company expects that general worker productivity will rise. Once Gentiva introduces the pen–based application feature, it anticipates:

• Cost savings on data entry because caregivers can automate some paperwork and input information directly into their records system from the Tablet PC
• Reduction of paperwork and staff turnover

For More Information

For more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426–9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568–2495. Customers who are deaf or hard–of–hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892–5234 in the United States or (905) 568–9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to:
http://www.microsoft.com

For more information about Gentiva Health Services products and services, visit the Web site at:
http://www.gentiva.com

© 2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Microsoft, Visual Studio, Windows, and the Windows logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.