According to an announcement from software provider Clarifire, St Petersburg, Fla, its Clarifire Health mobile technology is now being used by the BayCare Health System as part of the provider’s commitment to improving service and the experience of hospital patients. The software was piloted at BayCare’s Morton Plant, Mease Countryside, and St Anthony’s hospitals in specific units. It has been launched at in all inpatient units at those hospitals, as well as Morton Plant North Bay and Mease Dunedin.

To help enhance the experience of patients in the hospital, certain BayCare hospitals have been using nurse leader rounds. Nurse managers of inpatient hospital units visit patients daily to talk with patients about their care and experience. “Primarily, our discussions focus on the service aspect of the patient’s experience, but can also touch on clinical care,” said Lisa Johnson, vice president of patient services for Morton Plant Mease and the executive leader for the project. Using a set of questions, the patient and nurse manager discuss aspects of the hospital stay. “The conversations can range from anything to the temperature of the room to discharge information,” said Johnson.

Previously, the nurse manager would document the conversation with handwritten notes and then follow up later in the day with any other hospital departments that might need to get involved to assist in addressing the patient’s comment.

With the Clarifire’s technology, nurse managers use handheld tablets to capture information during nurse leader rounding. Driven by preset smart screens specifically designed for rounding with patients, information can be updated in real time. For items that need follow up, a note function automatically sends an alert via email to the appropriate person or department.

Hand-offs are seamless to the patient, Johnson says. If a different nurse manager rounds on the patient the next day, notes about the previous day’s conversation automatically populate the screen on the tablet. “For example, if a patient had voiced a specific concern the day before, the next nurse manager can see that information and check with the patient to make sure their concerns are addressed,” Johnson noted.