As the healthcare industry looks for ways to function more efficiently, Ricoh Company, Ltd.'s eWriter Solutions business unit has added a new product to the mix.
The eQuill, the San Jose-based company's new tablet, is designed to look and feel like a paperless clipboard, removing paper and substantial amounts of staff time from the information-gathering and record-keeping processes.
The accompanying back-end eWriter Workflow Services connects the eQuill to the healthcare facility's central server through WiFi or 3G services, enabling the information to be securely stored. Data can be captured via stylus, camera, voice recorder or soft keyboard. Signatures captured on the eQuill are legally verifiable.
According to Ron Barr, the company's vice president of marketing, by removing paper from the workflow process, healthcare facilities can make significant improvements to their bottom line.
"We did an analysis for a hospital in California," he said. "We calculated that every piece of paper they generated was costing them $4.98. By using a paperless system, they were able to cut that expense by 70 percent."
Barr believes the return on investment is the eWriter's biggest benefit. He said the tool reduces labor costs because there is no need to scan documents or make duplicate efforts to acquire patient information. "It also reduces costs associated with paper purchasing and document destruction," he said. "The resulting savings are substantial."
Another benefit is added security. Unlike paper records, eQuill files are password protected and can be tracked by GPS if stolen or lost. Additionally, the device can be programmed to shut down if it is taken out of range of the organization's server.
"It also helps with HIPAA compliance if a physician decides to take a patient's file home," said Nancy Renzullo, Ricoh's marketing communications and public relations manager.
Paperless processes also improve patient satisfaction because patients are no longer bombarded with duplicate paperwork, said Renzullo.
"This is the closest thing to paper that retains the benefits of an IT system. It takes paper and moves it into the digital world," said Barr.
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