Six tips for adding wireless devices to your work environment

Wireless mobile devices such as BlackBerries, smart phones, PDAs have WiFi and Windows tablets supported more and more everywhere. These devices are the most popular devices of wireless networks, more than desktops and laptops.

Initially most mobile devices are only used in the work separately, because some employees want to receive e-mail and other information quickly. The number of companies in many industries looking for ROI for this mobile device is increasing. They want to have external sales support devices, support staff working outside the office, provide overtime connections and access valuable value information of employees.

Six tips for adding wireless devices to your work environment Picture 1 The most mobile device users are doctors at the hospital. They need to connect from a patient bed to a doctor's bedroom. Access data (patient information) changes frequently and is sensitive information, requiring high levels of privacy and security. The electronic record of patient information is an intensive application, it requires to be placed on the end user's device, combining digital information, characters with the chart, execution of the reading mode 'Near real' space from external devices or images of drugs.

Northeast Medical Center, in Humble, Texas, launched the PDA application two years ago. The purpose of this program is to meet the requirements of physicians who want to access the latest patient information anywhere. Carla Maslakowski, executive vice president and director of information at the firm, has some experience for other companies that are planning to use wireless and mobile devices as follows:

1. Listen to the users : ' People want to access information anywhere, anytime. Many people ask us why not use wireless devices '. Wireless innovation is to meet user requirements, not by running technology. Wireless devices ensure fast access speed and speed of response, users only need a moment to get the desired information.

2. The first job is to upgrade security : ' Then, the first step we do is to assess the security level needed and contact Global Data Systems to upgrade it. They added 'end-point' security, illegal intrusion detection programs, provided more powerful firewalls and VPNs for point-to-point security , 'Maslakowski said.

3. Search for proven quality products rather than testing . Gartner advises his customers to let someone use a new product that he or she is planning to buy first, so that they detect errors and design problems that arise if the software is not perfect. Then you should buy the more complete program.

For example, Northeast Medical Center's PDA application, for example, is used in healing situations for the past decade. Developed from a simple loading package system, the program now integrates medical records. All of its components are designed to meet the requirements of physicians and have been thoroughly tested by users.

4. User benefits are above all : Northeast's application program runs both on Palm and Windows mobile devices. But the company standardized the program on Palm. Because 'it's a simpler system for customers, and because many of our doctors are using the Treo 650. There are many drug software programs on the Palm but doctors don't want to give up the apps. Using their Palm, as well as not wanting to go buy new devices. '

5. Flexibility in choice : While most doctors in Northeast use Palm devices (mainly smart phones Treo 650), some other members prefer i-mate WinMobile smart phones. Maslakowski allows them to use devices that are not standardized because they understand that they have their own support features. ' We have 300 doctors and a small IT staff. These IT staff are responsible for making doctors comfortable with the devices they are using . ' Of course, they can also access PDA programs via desktop computers on the local network using wires and Internet connections from the virtual private network at home or somewhere.

6. Ensuring activity for internal connections : Although there are WiFi networks in Medical Center, most doctors prefer to mount mobile devices to make it easier to access applications. NEMC has installed micro-mobile devices in the nurse's working area, providing timely elements at work. It allows nurses to write notes on the patient's bedside record and upload them to the main record in the nurse's area.

This program was incredibly successful. ' Our doctors like it. They can see the latest results and check the status of patients anywhere, maybe while standing in the lobby of Starbucks '. Maslakowski said.

Most doctors in NEMC have a habit of downloading the latest patient information every morning after they wake up. Then review the data during breakfast, call the test staff at the hospital while still at home. Finally, come to the patient's bed to see the results of the test, evaluate the patient's situation and make quick medical decisions. It is the best practical application of ROI.