The basics:
There are two main types of tablet PCs: a slate tablet PC, which is a tablet with no attached keyboard (although one can be added), and a convertible tablet PC, which is basically a laptop computer with a screen that can swivel and fold onto the keyboard to create the tablet.
Advantages:
- Tablets are truly portable and lightweight, typically weighing 3 to 4 lb.
- It is as powerful as a PC, but it doesn't require a keyboard. Instead, you add information by writing on the screen (or "tablet") with a digital pen or stylus, much like you do in a paper chart.
- Handwriting recognition software developed for tablet PCs is excellent, even for very poor handwriting.
- Tablet PCs have integrated dictation capability with voice recognition software that transcribes directly into the patient record.
Disadvantages:
- Writing with a stylus takes getting used to -- there is a longer learning curve in adapting to a new way of using a computer.
- Handwriting recognition dictionaries have not yet fully integrated medical terminology and acronyms, requiring more correction.
- There is not as much standardized software yet available for tablets.
- Screens are easily scratched and can become unusable without screen protectors purchased at additional cost.
What your peers have to say:
"I have been using a Gateway tablet in the room with my OB patients for the past two years. We use an ASP prenatal record called eNatal. I wouldn't trade for it. It has three methods of entering data on the screen, all vastly improved with the SP2 for Windows XP for Tablet.
"The first method is through tapping on a screen-based keyboard with the stylus (slow but very accurate). The second is through straight handwriting recognition. I have relatively poor handwriting, but it is amazing how accurate and fast this is! The only thing that seems to trip it up is some abbreviations, acronyms, or words that it can not find in the dictionary. The third option is a letter-by-letter handwriting recognition panel that is slower but extremely accurate.
"We've had no downtime. The wireless connection works well. The battery life is good (I plug it into the docking cradle between OB patients). We have used laptops and desktops for eNatal in the rooms and the tablet works best by far. As we look to add a full EMR, we hope to use a tablet-based system, probably the Motion Computing tablets with the biometric (fingerprint) access."
-- G. Jeffrey Young, MD, FAAFP, Levelland, TX
