Panasonic Introduces New MCA, the Toughbook H2

Today Panasonic Solutions Company announced the fully-rugged Toughbook H2 Windows® tablet PC; the next generation of its Toughbook mobile clinical assistant (MCA).

The Toughbook H2 MCA is designed for the mobile healthcare worker, with features like a fanless design and sealed buttons for easy disinfection, thus reducing the risk of germs being spread from patient to patient. Panasonic’s Cleaning Reminder Tool, can also be programmed to remind users to wipe down the unit at defined intervals.

The Toughbook H2 is a secure and intuitive platform for barcode medication administration (BCMA) vitals capture as well as electronic medical records (EMR) capture and review.

The security, disinfection features and design of the Toughbook H2 will help to maximize workflow and ease clinical loads for doctors and nurses, allowing them to access patient records at the point of care and document a patient's condition in real time.

A few days with the Motion Computing C5v Tablet PC

The Motion Computing C5v Tablet PC isn't your average tablet PC. This Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) is built as a rugged, industrial tablet specifically for the health care market. It's built with Corning's with Gorilla™ glass for up to four times the strength in breakage resistance over standard displays. Equipped with Intel® Core™ vPro™ technology, the C5v is very fast and responsive while it runs Windows 7. The sealed design is wipeable for quick cleaning and disinfecting.

So, what do I really like about the C5v? This device has the same types of features you'll find on other rugged mobile computers. It's an MCA, so it has the capability for an integrated barcode reader, Radio Frequency (RFID) technology, etc.

I really like the overall design of the C5v. It's sleek, it's very slim, and it uses a simple design. The C5v is easy to use and I like the fact that you can even hot-swap the batteries. Even busy physicians will find that  the C5v can be an indispensable tool if you're constantly reviewing electronic health record information and entering computerized orders. The C5v can also be connected to a wide array of docking options and other accessories that allows you to effectively use this computer at your desk.

Stay tuned as I continue to review my C5v and share some of my insights about this mobile device. 

I'm now testing the Motion Computing C5v Tablet PC

I'm now testing the Motion Computing C5v Tablet PC. This is a great little slate tablet that runs Windows 7 and it's designed specifically for the hospital or health care industry. I'm eager to spend some time with this device and I'll be sharing some of my impressions over the next few weeks as I review the C5v.

Here's a brief description of this device:

Deliver mobility and reliability at the point-of-care with the Motion® C5v. The industry’s first Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA), the C5v was designed specifically for healthcare environments in partnership with Intel® Health and based on input from thousands of clinicians worldwide. Lightweight, rugged and fully-sealed to ensure compliance with infection control protocols, the C5v is built for demanding healthcare environments.

From the hospital to home care, the rugged design can handle even the toughest conditions. The C5v now comes standard with Gorilla™ glass for up to four times the strength in breakage resistance over standard displays. Add in View Anywhere® technology and users get the best tablet PC viewing experience available. And now with Intel® Core™ vPro™ technology, the C5v offers new levels of power, security and manageability. With up to 50% improvement in performance, a nearly 30% increase in battery life, hot-swap battery feature and enhanced remote management capabilities, both clinicians and IT personnel can feel confident that the C5v is available and patient data secure – freeing up valuable time and resources to focus on patient care.

Motion Announces the New C5v and F5v Rugged Tablet PCs

Motion Computing has made improvements to the C5 and F5 mobile tablet computers. The C5v and F5v offer enhanced integrated features, improved performance, durability and connectivity.

Features and Benefits include (on the F5v):

• 50% improvement in performance
• Approx 30% increase in battery life
• Intel® Core™ i5 and i7 vPro™ processors
• Increased storage capacity and memory
• Display now standard with Gorilla glass for up to 4 times the strength in breakage resistance
• Hot swappable battery
• Web camera and 3MP documentation camera

You'll find most of the same features on the C5v.  If you're looking for a great mobile clinical assistant (MCA) that includes Gorilla glass (made by Corning), then the C5v is waiting for you.  Maybe you can find some great deals on the older Motion C5.

Will Apple revolutionize medicine with the iPad?

In the Washington Post, you may have caught the article titled, "With the iPad, Apple may just revolutionize medicine." How will the iPad revolutionize medicine? This weekend, I saw a few medical students attending the Association of MD/MBA Programs 8th Annual Conference and at least two students were taking notes on the iPad.

So, how will this mobile device revolutionize medicine? If the iPad becomes ubiquitous in the hospital setting and if health care providers are using this mobile device to access patient data and imaging studies, then the small and light iPad could improve efficiencies in many aspects. However, we know that the iPad is not a "rugged" device, so will we see other versions that are specifically designed for the health care environment? We've seen several manufacturers create Mobile Clinical Assistants like the Motion C5 and the Panasonic Toughbook H1. These devices are designed for inpatient settings, so will we see a "clinical" version of the iPad emerge soon? The addition of a silicon sleeve won't protect it from other common hospital forces like splashes, drops, and germs.

The iPad has been engineered for the consumer market, but let's see what Apple comes up with for the health care industry.

Motion C5 MCA and the Motion Clinical Workstation (MCW)

Motion® C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) and the Motion Clinical Workstation (MCW) are powerful computing solutions designed for clinical environments - brought to you from the leader in mobile point of care. The rugged C5 is proven to enhance clinical workflows by taking technology directly to the point of care, while the MCW addresses the demands of dependability, serviceability, flexibility and performance. Built on Motion's expertise in clinical workflows and mobile computing, Motion's integrated mobile computing solutions meet the needs of fast-paced clinical environments.

As a special offer to HIMSS attendees, purchase up to two Motion Tablet PCs at 30% off MSRP through Friday, April 9, 2010 or while supplies last. To place an order, you will need to purchase through our online store and enter the promo code evehimss10 at checkout. 

To learn more about Motion Tablet PC deployments in the healthcare industry, visit http://motioncomputing.com/about/news/case_studies_healthcare.asp for current case studies and white papers.

Webinar: Hybrid Mobile Computing for Improved Clinical Workflows

In this free, Motion-hosted webinar attendees will learn how to enable clinicians to benefit from a highly optimized workflow in support of the way they work. Combining the Motion C5 MCA with the Motion Clinical Workstation (MCW) offers a flexible solution for improving clinical productivity, optimizing EMR utilization and enhancing clinician satisfaction by personalizing solutions for individual workflows.

Date and Time: Thursday, March 25, 2010 11:00 am (CDT)

To register for this complimentary webinar, click here.

Healthcare: The Motion C5 MCA (webinar)

Interested in viewing a recorded webinar about mobile computers at the point-of-care?

This one is titled, "Healthcare: The C5 MCA - Proven to Improve Clinician Productivity and Enhance Patient Care"

In this Motion-hosted Webinar, attendees will learn how the Motion C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA), the industry’s first MCA being used in thousands of healthcare organizations worldwide, is proven in healthcare environments. The C5, now with an integrated smart card reader for enhanced security, is improving clinician productivity, decreasing data input latency, improving documentation accuracy at the point-of-care and enhancing clinician satisfaction. Learn how the Motion C5’s highly mobile, lightweight design and integrated features make it the ideal choice for highly mobile clinicians. Running time: 32 minutes

Click here to view the recorded webinar.

The evolving tablet PC for the health care industry

When some of the first tablet PCs came out, they were heavy and expensive. Some are still heavy and expensive, but the tablet PC market has certainly shrunk. Slate tablet PCs are rare and we see the vast majority of people using laptops or convertible tablets. Several U.S. medical schools require medical students to use a Lenovo ThinkPad X200 tablet PC. Sorry, but if you're an Apple fan, you'll need to use a PC if you're in one of those schools.

So, how has the tablet PC evolved in the health care industry?

• One of the major changes occurred when we lost the Apple Newton MessagePad.  Doctors (early adopters of technology) who used the Newton were devastated. What do we use now?
• Some physicians tried using slate tablets, but at the time, many electronic health record (EHR) software solutions were not really optimized for tablets and pen-based input. 
• Some manufacturers created slate-style tablet PCs that detached from a keyboard base. Remember the HP TC1000 and TC1100?
• Then, physicians turned to convertible tablets, but most physicians simply used these as laptops because they were more comfortable with the keyboard and mouse.
• Then, nurses and other clinicians started using Mobile Clinical Assistants in the hospital setting. These devices were versatile, thanks to their built-in RFID and barcode scanners. The Motion C5 and Panasonic H1 became quite popular, despite their high price tags.
• Many PC manufacturers gave up on the slate tablet industry. It was simply too niche. 
• Additional PC manufacturers gave up on the convertible tablet industry.
• The concept of the ultra-mobile PCs flopped.  The origami campaign was dead.
• Then, netbooks started gaining popularity and Asus created a convertible tablet netbook.
• Lenovo introduced a hybrid tablet/notebook with the IdeaPad U1 hybrid.
• HP teased the world with the HP Slate.
• Now, Apple (and others like HP and Lenovo) may be revolutionizing the slate industry by introducing slate-style devices like the iPad. If health care professionals start becoming more comfortable with a slate form factor, will this translate over to pen-based computing? Will we be more inclined to navigate directly on the screen of a device instead of using a mouse and keyboard?

I believe that tablets will gain tremendous traction in the healthcare industry. Once physicians realize that they can be much more productive by navigating directly on the screen, they will be inclined to switch to touch/pen-based computing.

Motion C5 vs. Panasonic H1

If you're looking for a Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA), you're probably looking at either the Motion Computing C5 or the Panasonic Toughbook H1. There are other options, but the C5 and H1 are the most popular devices (and if you look at the market segment, you'll see that the C5 is currently dominating the MCA market).

So, what makes them similar? What makes them different? In order to qualify as an MCA, Intel has outlined the specifications that must be met. So, all MCAs will have very similar key capabilities.

Let me highlight 2 differences (although this will change by the latter part of this year):

• The Panasonic Toughbook H1 is thicker, it has a "grip" option on the back that allows you to hold it more securely, and it offers a dual-battery design that lets you swap batteries without powering down the device. However, it lacks Gorilla Glass and its Atom processor is slow compared to the Motion C5 Core 2 Duo processor. The Atom processor and the dual battery design allows this machine to be used all day (which is more important if you're outdoors, but in a hospital setting you almost always have access to charging stations). Panasonic has a long history of building rugged Toughbook computers.
• The Motion C5 is thinner and is currently designed with a single battery (but I was told this will be changing). It comes with Gorilla Glass and a faster Core 2 Duo processor. The faster processor could lead to shorter battery life, but in a hospital setting you generally have easy access to charging stations. Motion Computing specializes only in slate computers and they've been in this business for many years.
• Both are Wacom Penabled. Neither offer a capacitive multi-touch screen option at this time.

Both of these slate tablets are expensive and they're designed for niche markets. I doubt that other major hardware manufacturers will be making similar MCAs anytime soon since these types of devices are highly specialized and expensive.

HP, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Dell, and Motion made a splash here at #HIMSS10. Where was Lenovo and Sony?

As I walked through the HIMSS10 exhibit this week, I visited the HP, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Dell, and Motion Computing booths. I played around with their mobile devices and computers. Strangely enough, I didn't see Lenovo or Sony. Samsung and LG were here, but I didn't see Apple.

At the HP booth, I enjoyed playing with their EliteBook laptops. At the Fujitsu booth, I played with the tiny LifeBook UH900. At the Panasonic booth, I played with the Toughbook C1. At the Motion Computing booth, I played with the C5 MCA.

Next year, I'm sure we'll see more mobile devices displayed at the HIMSS exhibit. My prediction is that we'll see Apple here with the iPad, HP with the Slate, and several other new and innovative slate-style computers.

Special thanks to HP for sponsoring me to attend and blog here at HIMSS10.

Apple's iPad will be aimed at hospitals

We all know that Apple will be announcing a tablet pretty soon. It's rumored to be called the iPad (and by now, I think we can depend on all the circulating rumors).

According to FierceMobileHealthcare, there are rumors of the Apple tablet circulating among doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Maybe this is not the consumer prototype and maybe Apple will launch a professional version of the iSlate for health care professionals. We really don't know and I'm not about to start rumors.

We all know that many physicians (and medical students) carry iPhone. Many nurses (and nursing students) also use the iPhone. The same can be said of pharmacists and all other healthcare professionals. So, if people are comfortable with the iPhone interface, then the iPad should be a piece of cake. We will definitely see more mobile devices used in the hospital setting. The iPad may even replace the use of some Mobile Clinical Assistants (maybe the iPad will clip to a mobile base that incorporates things like a barcode scanner, RFID reader, etc.).

Mobile computers in the hospital

The last time you were in a hospital, did you notice many mobile computers? You may have seen some LCD monitors mounted on a rolling cart. Maybe you saw some nurses carrying little tablet-shaped mobile clinical assistants (MCAs) like the Motion C5. As hospitals become more digital, they will incorporate more computers into patient rooms, the walls, the waiting rooms, the common areas, and even the operating rooms. We'll have computers everywhere and they'll rely on wireless technology like Wi-Fi to communicate. Doctors will use them to enter orders (CPOE). Others will check labs and other test results on computes. Patient will also get to view some of their own health record information on tablets and other types of mobile devices. Plus, you can expect that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers will all carry some type of mobile computer. The world of mobile computing will continue to explode in the health care industry as medical professionals recognize their need to stay connected and have access to vital information.

Shopping for a Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA)

You're not going to find a Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) at Best Buy or Staples, so how do you go shopping for one of these? If you'd like to integrate the use of an MCA into your outpatient practice (even though most are primarily designed for the inpatient setting or emergency room), then you may wish to speak with your hospital IT department to see what types of MCAs they're currently using.

Maybe they use the Motion Computing C5. At roughly $2,500 - $3,500, this is not a cheap device. You could also get the MediSlate i1040XT for roughly $2,800. You could shop for the Panasonic Toughbook H1 and pay around $3,500 for this MCA. Amazon even sells this one.

If it were up to me, I'd struggle between the Motion Computing C5 and the Panasonic Toughbook H1. The current prices are still too high, but my hope is that in 2010 we'll start to see the prices fall on these MCAs. Wouldn't it be wild if Apple got into the MCA space and developed some type of slate tablet for the hospital setting?

Will the Apple tablet get announced on January 26?

The rumors about the Apple tablet seem to go up and down like a roller coaster. Will Steve Jobs announce the Apple tablet (iSlate maybe?) on January 26 when they address the public? I'm very eager to see the Apple tablet because I want to know if it will have a role in the health care industry. I'm sure the Apple tablet will be geared for the average consumer, but health care professionals are consumers as well and if the right types of apps are installed on a tablet, then it can improve work-flow efficiencies in the clinical setting.

On a similar topic, I'm surprised that Apple hasn't developed a mobile clinical assistant (MCA) for the healthcare industry. I realize that most hospitals and physician offices operate with PCs instead of Macs. However, as Apple's popularity rises among physicians and medical students, I won't be surprised if more doctors choose to equip their medical offices with Macs instead of PCs.

What's mobile health?

What's mobile health? How do you define "mobile health?"

• Some may think of mobile health clinics (a van, bus, trailer, cruise ship, etc.)
• Others may think about doctors who make house calls.
• Some think about mobile computers used in health care.
• Others may think about doctors who treat all their patients from a car.
• Some may think of mobile health
  

The purpose of this website is to explore how mobile computers can be used in the health care industry. I'm passionate about gadgets and technology and I feel that mobile clinical assistants (MCAs) and tablet computers will play a huge role in the future of health care. I also believe that smartphones and other mobile devices will be used by more health care providers.

So how do you define mobile health? Do you use mobile computers?

Samsung Q1EX-71G UMPC

The Samsung Q1EX-71G UMPC is now on the Samsung website. CDW has it listed for $729.99 (the part # is NP-Q1EX-FA01US). Let's see what the reviews look like. When UMPCs first came out, I thought they would be great in the healthcare sector. Uptake has been slow with the UMPC, but the Motion C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) tablet seems to have gained significant momentum in hospitals.