Integration of a handheld based anaesthesia rounding system into an anaesthesia information management system.

Background: At the University Hospital Giessen, an anesthesia information management system (AIMS) is used for online record keeping of perioperative patient care, but preoperative anaesthesia assessments were still being recorded on paper and subsequently entered into the AIMS. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) seem to be useful instruments to establish a seamless digital anesthesiological documentation.

Objectives: We decided to implement a solution for direct integration of data gathered during the preoperative assessment into the existing data management infrastructure. Parallel to the development of the system, we surveyed the future users to match their wishes and needs as far as possible.

System Description: A C program embedding the preoperative AIMS' data fields was developed. Data alignment with the Hospital information system (HIS) is controlled by a Java desktop software. The anaesthesiologist completes the available fields at the patient's bedside following the same algorithm and integrity check as the PC version. STATUS REPORT: Overall, 68% of the surveyed physicians supported the implementation of the system. The PDA solution has been available since May 2002. Data replication into the handheld and integration of mobile collected data into the AIMS generally work without problems. The HIS interconnection software converts the PDA file into the AIMS format for further processing.

Discussion: The preoperative anaesthetic assessment is a standardised task well suitable for conversion to an electronic data storage medium. Changing from redundant data entry in the OR to direct electronic recording at the patient's bedside seems simply logical. Handheld computers are inexpensive, flexible gadgets to realize this.