Operational Readiness Strategies of an Acute Pediatric Institution Implementing a Clinical Mobile Application Solution that Includes Care Role Integration, Messaging, and Alerts and Alarming for Enhanced Patient Care

The deployment of new technology is challenging in any setting. Whether it is a new surgical tool or new electronic health record, an appropriate level of operational readiness should be reached when introducing new technology in healthcare systems. Mobile health (mHealth) is one area of technological innovation in health care that can promote cost reductions, enhance access to health care, and improve the overall quality of patient care. As with any new technology implementation, there will also be a level of resistance to its adoption. Effective training is one key area that could increase clinicians’ intention to use mHealth tools, and it plays a central role in its success. Through the implementation of a new mHealth solution at an acute pediatric institution, training was a key feature of its operational readiness strategies.

The goal of operational readiness is to prepare the institution to adopt a newly introduced technology or device. Initially, a start-stop-continue template was developed to compare the legacy mobile application to the new mobile application and analyze what workflows would need to be created (start), modified (stop), or remain unchanged (continue). Next, solution validation sessions were held with subject matter experts (SME) and super users (SU) to ensure they were able to test and verify the appropriateness of the application features with their respective area's workflows in mind. This also allowed us to evaluate the end users’ level of expectations of the new implementation. According to Zadvinskis et al (2018), nurses’ expectations of health information that can influence adoption can be divided into five categories: ease of use, workflow and task performance, collaboration within the unit, communication across disciplines and departments, and effects on quality of care, which includes patient safety and satisfaction.

Training started with computer-based learning modules that were provided by the vendor. PowerPoint presentations and handouts were then developed by the project management team and the clinical informatics team, and they also conducted SU training. The team then brought training to the end users by holding roadshows and cafes. The benefit of roadshows was they could reach more end users at their own units at a time of their choosing, and sessions were geared towards their respective areas of expertise. The cafes enabled end users to come at their own time to a convenient central location, and they were strategically scheduled around times of shift change.

The success of the hands-on training was evident from the attendance numbers to the analytics of alerts received by roles claimed in the mobile communication application. Pre- and post-surveys also show a positive response to the new application vs. the legacy application. Feedback from end users for desired functionality and features was submitted for enhancements to the vendor. The operational readiness strategies helped to ensure the mHealth application aligned with the institutional goals of refined workflows, enhanced communication, and improved patient safety.