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Hospital Deploys Palm Handhelds in Self-evaluation Program for Trainee Anaesthetists

Australia's Geelong Hospital Takes First Step in Larger Rollout Plan

August 20, 2002 - Australia's Geelong Hospital has created a program it believes is the first of its kind in the healthcare industry for performance evaluation. The solution, which consists of Palm(TM) m500 handheld computers running software from Sync International, provides trainee anaesthetists with a simple and intuitive menu interface containing a standard set of performance criteria for conducting self-assessments. At Geelong Hospital, the solution is used to help the trainee anaesthetists conduct self-appraisals of their work.

Rolled out last January, the Palm solution has been so successful that Geelong Hospital has plans to purchase additional Palm handhelds for its next phase, which will see the program being extended over the coming months into other Australian hospitals, beginning with The Alfred in Melbourne. This will be a first step in a two-year plan by a group of anaesthetists at Geelong Hospital to take the Palm m500 series program to a national level in an effort to improve the performance of anaesthetists in Australia.

"By using Palm handhelds, we're able to follow a trainee anaesthetist's performance more accurately and consistently, as well as pick up any variation in their progress and development," said Dr. Andrew Patrick, anaesthetic consultant at Geelong Hospital. "This enables us to support our trainees with a more rigorous training program."

Improved Performance Monitoring

Previously, trainees used a paper system to record interactions with patients, and there were no defined performance measures to ensure uniformity of the collected data. With the Palm handheld-based solution, the accuracy and consistency of trainees' records -- how they work with patients, how medicines are administered and the procedures for recording such details -- are greatly improved.

After synchronising the information into a secure online database, trainee can also chart out their progress graphically. With more accurate data, senior staff can measure, analyse and evaluate physician performances more precisely and in a timelier manner.

"The system encourages trainee to critically reflect on their performance and think about the way they practice," said Dr. Patrick. "This process has the potential to revolutionise Australia's medical culture by focusing performance appraisal on data collected by the trainee on a daily basis as opposed to a recollection method, as is common with a half yearly or yearly review. Our trainees are enthusiastic about the system and have responded positively to this self-evaluation appraisal."

Lesley McKnight, marketing manager for Palm Sales Australia, New Zealand and India, said, "The flexibility and mobility Palm handhelds provide is helping Australia's medical profession shape world-best practices that we expect will rapidly expand across the healthcare industry.

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc. is a pioneer in the field of mobile and wireless Internet solutions and a leading provider of handheld computers, according to IDC (2001). Based on the Palm OS® platform, Palm's handheld solutions allow people to carry and access their most critical information wherever they go. Palm™ handhelds address the needs of individuals, enterprises and educational institutions by offering the foundation for thousands of application solutions. Palm stock is traded on the Nasdaq national market under the symbol PALM. More information is available at http://www.palm.com.

Palm OS is a registered trademark and Palm is a trademark of Palm, Inc. Other brands may be trademarks of their respective owners.