ProScribe was an early MCA or Medical Clinical Assistant device, created by
Philips in 2006. It was designed as a medical tablet PC, that could be taken
anywhere inside the hospital, rested on one arm or a bed whilst notes were entered
in via a touchscreen, whilst maintaining a continuous wi-fi link to the hospital
itself. The Scribe could also be docked at a nurse's station or doctor's desk
to commune data through wired channels, and to recharge.
Physicians visiting patients on the ward could use ProScribe to prescribe medication
or make laboratory appointments on the spot. The moment the data was entered,
under the doctor's secure login of course, it was transmitted to the nearest
hotspot, and back to the central computer system. Within a minute, the request
was logged at the pharmacy or diagnosis room, eliminating unnecessary delays.
Nurses typically used the display to enter blood pressure, temperature and other
relevant data into an electronic patient record at the patient's bedside. Again,
there and then, the data was part of the patient's central medical records.
EMR, PACS and other patient files and applications were supported, although
they could not be called forth on the limited capabilities of this model.
Thanks to its 12.1" LCD XGA touch screen, display emulated keyboard and integrated
wireless LAN driver, the display could be operated without any external devices.
USB support was included, but only on the docking ports themselves. Once lifted
off the port, the Scribe's docking pins closed behind neoprene seals, rendering
them waterproof. The unit lacked a fan, cooling itself with a collection of
heat distribution channels. This allowed the case to be a sealed unit such that
immersion in fluid, whilst not recommended, would not bother it. |
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