Over the past 10 months, an innovative mobile technology has been quietly entering waiting rooms and exam rooms, transforming patient visits in the process. The Ocean platform was developed by CognisantMD – a Toronto-based, physician-founded startup – to help improve patient care and make patient visits more efficient.
OceanWave uses patient questionnaires – either on a touchscreen tablet or via a secure email link – to register new patients, update patient records, take concise patient histories, and conduct surveys for quality improvement and research. By integrating directly with the EMR, it reduces paperwork, scanning, and re-typing, while improving the accuracy of the information stored in the EMR.
With OceanWave, patients are presented with a touchscreen tablet in the waiting room. After reading an optional welcome screen with clinic announcements, they’re asked to review and update their contact information. Thanks to a wireless connection, any changes made on the tablet are automatically reflected in the patient’s record, without any effort on the part of the receptionist.
Beyond the administrative benefits, OceanWave can also be used to gain a better understanding of patient concerns. OceanWave offers over 400 diagnostic and agenda-setting questionnaires based on clinical guidelines, including the Nipissing District Developmental Screen™, PHQ-9, and IPSS. Physicians can also develop their own questionnaires, based on the needs of their practice.
Once completed, patient questionnaires generate a concise clinical note in the EMR, and even highlight “red flags”. This allows physicians to review patient concerns and self-reported sympotems before they even see the patient.
OceanWave is already in use at St. Michael's hospital, Sunnybrook hospital, Brock University and University of Ottawa, as well as numerous family practice and specialist clinics, with more clinics being added each week. To learn more or get started using OceanWave in your practice, visit www.cognisantmd.com.
BlueBird IT Solutions Inc. is an approved Ocean(tm) vendor. Contact us today if you need help setting up an Ocean solution for your clinic.
