Where can I find a ribbon for my typewriter? I have a survey coming up!

Typewriters. Remember those? They got pushed aside in the mid 80's when the computer word processor was born. Not so fast though. Many an office worker would not part with their trusted mechanical partner.

Comments like; "I can type a letter and get it in an envelope much faster than using a computer" or " This word processor is too complicated, what's a font size?" " What do you mean "save file"?

It took a while for people to figure out they can "mail merge", have templates ,save files for quick retrieval and all of the other huge advantages a word processor gives over a manual typewriter. Seriously, can you imagine using a typewriter now ? Most people have never even seen one.

The first typewriter to be commercially successful was invented in 1868 by Americans Christopher Latham Sholes, Frank Haven Hall, Carlos Glidden and Samuel W. Soule in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, although Sholes soon disowned the machine and refused to use, or even to recommend it.

Unfortunately, ASC's have not given up their typewriters. At least when speaking of Accreditation record keeping. Actually, they are using a system that was used BEFORE the typewriter was even invented!

ASC's are using pen and paper (just a step above feather and parchment) to manage their daily log books. Despite all of the technology available and the efficiency it provides, ASC staff are still looking for a pen to fill out their autoclave form.

Imagine your ASC is scheduled for a survey. One of the first items on your list is to gather 3 years of log book forms. You arrange them in a stack, several stacks. Hundreds of paper forms. Forms forms forms.

Look at the stacks and estimate how much time went into filling out those forms. How many hours and hours over the years nurse staff spent filling out those forms. Add in what a staff member is paid per hour and you can get an idea of how much those stacks cost.

Picture an iPad next to those stacks of log book forms. Take all of the stacks and stuff them into the iPad. As the forms are stuffed into the iPad they get compressed along with the time it took to fill them out.

Using a product like AccreditSoft (www.accreditSoft.com) nurse staff can stop looking for a pen and pick up an iPad. They can enter log book data in a quarter of the time it normally takes. Staff also get reminders of any unfinished tasks. Forms are securely stored in the cloud and Surveyors can review logbooks in a variety of report formats or make custom reports.

Mr. Sholes stopped recommending the typewriter, I recommend ASC's stop using pen and paper log books. A Little up front time learning something new pays big dividends down the road.

The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker's Hospital Review/Becker's Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.

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