Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for 10 years or less)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Research and Innovations (new projects / technology / innovations / service models)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Lau CH(1), Li MF(1), Mok YT(1), Kwok CF(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Surgery, Hong Kong Children's Hospital
Introduction :
Hong Kong Children’s Hospital is a smart hospital that offers various electronic services including E-consent, E-vitals and E-handover etc. Within the hospital, ward 6N serves as the surgery department, specializing in a range of sub-specialty surgeries for children, such as general surgery, neurosurgery, ENT, O&T, thoracic surgery and dental surgery etc. Due to the diverse range procedures performed, numerous guidelines, educational materials and information folders are stored at the nurse stations. However, some staff members have expressed concerns regarding difficulties in retrieving specific documents and limited workplace. Quick Response (QR) codes are two-dimensional barcodes that can be easily scanned using a smartphone or other mobile devices. In recent years, QR codes have gained popularity in healthcare settings due to their ability to provide quick and easy access to important information. Therefore, the adoption of QR code technology has been implemented in our nurse stations.
Objectives :
(1)To reduce document retrieval time (2)To optimize working environment (3)To promote a paperless environment (4)To enhance cost-effectiveness
Methodology :
To gather information related to the implementation of QR codes in document management at the nurse station, pre and post questionnaires were conducted among all nursing staff. The following steps were taken during the implementation process: 1. A Google Drive was created for document storage (1/8/2023) 2. Different sub-specialty folders and guidelines were integrated into the system. (7/8/2023 to 20/8/2023) 3. The documents were uploaded to the internet and designated QR codes were created. (21/8/2023 to 3/9/2023) 4. The staff was introduced to and educated on the use of QR code. (4/9/2023 to 10/9/2023) 5. The QR code were placed at nurse station (11/9/2023) 6. Post questionnaires were conducted. (12/9/2023 to 25/9/2023)
Result & Outcome :
The implementation of QR code usage received positive feedback from all nursing staff members. The post questionnaires indicated that all staff strongly agreed that QR codes made information retrieval faster and more convenient. Scanning the QR codes allowed them to instantly access documents, eliminating the need for manual searching and browsing through physical folders. This feature proved particularly useful when documents needed to be accessed frequently and urgently. Furthermore, the nursing staff members expressed that the overall tidiness and organization of the nurse station had significantly improved after the implementation of QR codes. The elimination of bulky physical files from the nurse station resulted in a more spacious workspace. The reduction in physical clutter contributed to a visually appealing and well-organized environment for the nursing staff. Overall, the implementation of QR codes not only facilitated faster and more efficient document retrieval but also enhanced the tidiness and organization of the nurse station. The streamlined document management system, reduced physical clutter, and elimination of paper waste created a more efficient and visually appealing workspace for the nursing staff, thereby contributing to an improved working environment.
