Mobility in the Round: Use of Wireless Laptop PCs in Clinical Ward Rounds

Abstract:

It has been suggested that mobile Information and communication technologies (MICTs) are better suited than traditional desktop devices to support work practices where participants are either moving around or conduct their work in different spatially dispersed settings. One such practice, which might be expected to benefit from MICT support, is the ward rounds conducted by hospital doctors. After a brief description of this practice, data are presented on the usage of laptop PCs in ward rounds in the Medicine Service of a U.S. hospital with a well-established IT infrastructure. Drawing on questionnaires, Interviews, and observational evidence, the paper explores why, 5 years after the laptops were first introduced, a quarter of the clinicians had never used them, and only a quarter took advantage of more than their basic functionality. A number of possible reasons for the failure of doctors to adopt a technology that is seen as offering significant benefits to their work are discussed. In particular, it appeared that the reliability of the technology, differences in senior doctors’ ward round practices, and social inertia contributed to the low level of uptake. Other local factors, such as the architecture of the building and departmental practices regarding laptop usage, also affected doctors’ use. Implications for research on ubiquitous Computing are drawn.

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