Miyake Medical Institute Group Replaces Bedside TVs with DIT-1000 Information Terminals
- Customer
- Miyake Medical Institute Group
- Industry
- Medical & Healthcare
- Contec products
- DIT-1000 Digital Information Terminal
- Goals
- Enhanced customer service, Enhanced features, Quality improvement
Focused on patient hospitality, Miyake Rehabilitation Hospital replaced its bedside TVs with Contec DIT-1000 touch-screen terminals that combine instant-on TV with hospital information services.
Overview
Miyake Medical Institute Group, led by Chief Director Shin-ichiro Miyake, places great importance on inpatient comfort. Miyake Rehabilitation Hospital completed a full renovation in 2004 and converted 60% of its rooms to private rooms. To give patients more information, the group decided to replace bedside TVs with bedside computers and chose Contec’s DIT-1000.
Challenge
Bedside TVs could only show broadcasts. A computer with a tuner could also deliver hospital information directly, such as hospitalization guidelines and a facility directory, instead of printed copies. The hospital’s rooms share a wireless LAN, but medical and general information networks are fully separated, and Miyake noted that security rules for medical information are a significant constraint for remote diagnosis and telemedicine.
Solution
The DIT-1000 is a touch-screen computer with an 18.5-inch wide display (1,366 × 768). Its TV and computer functions are fully separated: the TV receives terrestrial and satellite digital broadcasts and is available as soon as the unit powers on, and a remote control switches between TV and computer. Running Windows, it lets the hospital build information applications in a standard development environment, and its touch screen is intuitive for all ages.
The group searched worldwide for an arm strong enough to hold the terminal so patients can view it face on, even lying in bed.
Plans include letting patients view their own electronic medical records once security issues are resolved, calling a nurse from the screen, supporting examinations on rounds, convenience-store purchases, two-way home care communication, sensor-based fall prevention and IC card identification for billing.
Results
Miyake said the improved image quality and the mounting arm expand the range of use and let the group begin offering value-added services, with the goal of extending information technology into home care.
Contec products used
Originally published by Contec Co., Ltd. at contec.com.