The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68446

Donna L. Daulton, RN, BSN, Martha J. Handly, RN, MSN, and Connie L. Schneider, RNBC, BSN. Bureau of Population Health, Community-Based Care, Marion County Health Department, South District Health Office, 505 E. National Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227, (317)221-5700, ddaulton@hhcorp.org

Minimizing documentation time and increasing the availability and accuracy of client outcome data have become imperative for the future of public health nursing departments. Planning, orientation, and implementation activities have been undertaken to install an automated nursing documentation information system within the Marion County health Department (MCHD). A standardized nursing language and supportive software have been implemented. A multidisciplinary “core team” consisting of administration, managers, and public health nurses has been formed to: (1) teach software application, (2) input client date, (3) customize selected software to public health needs, and (4) serve as leaders and mentors to public health nursing peers. This presentation will review the experiences of the MCHD in the actual implementation of an automated nursing documentation information system and review strategies for success.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the advantages of automating a public health nursing clinical record system.
• Assess different adult learning styles and methods to incorporate these styles into successful record automation learning activities.
• Identify appropriate learning activities for successful implementation of an automated clinical charting system.
• Discuss the benefits of a planning timetable for successful implementation of an automated clinical charting system.
• Demonstrate the effective utilization of a public health nurse training team to ensure successful implementation of record automation.
• Articulate the benefits of interdepartmental and multidisciplinary staff collaboration to ensure a smooth transition to an automated nursing documentation information system.

Keywords: Information Databases, Professional Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement: