Technology

Residency Intranet

All residents have access to an intranet that hosts much of the educational content and provides an engaging environment for learning. Resources available include interactive learning modules, electronic libraries of selected papers, as well as resident written notes and curricula. The intranet also hosts administrative tools including conference scheduling, slide presentations, and residency announcements. Summaries of resident reports are posted daily.

Workstations on Wheels (WOWS)

All medical floors are equipped with wireless network access. Many of these floors are also supplied with wireless laptops on mobile carts that can be wheeled around the floor. These computers can be used to access patient data, enter orders, and view radiologic images without restricting the location of residents and are an asset during inpatient rounds.

Web-based Resident Schedule

Resident rotation schedules are posted in advance on amion.com, a comprehensive scheduling tool for residents. The front page outlines which resident or intern is on call for each particular service. Personal schedules can be downloaded to PDAs or calendar software and viewed to determine call schedules, clinic days and days off.

MGH/Partners Clinical Systems

Clinical Application Suite (CAS)

All residents have access to a user-friendly state-of-the-art electronic medical record designed by MGH called CAS. This program integrates clinical results, radiologic images, and physician notes into a single program for efficient browsing of patient data.

Longitudinal Medical Record (LMR)

All residents have access to a program used in the outpatient setting, called LMR. This program integrates laboratory, pathology, radiology and note information in a different format amenable to outpatient medical care. LMR allows the posting of electronic notes and communicates with CAS.

OnCall

Residents also have access to an additional program used in the outpatient setting, called OnCall. This program integrates laboratory, pathology, radiology and note information in a format adapted to accommodate outpatient medical care. Some outpatient practices utilize OnCall to post clinic notes as an alternative to LMR.

Discharge Express (DEX)

DEX (Discharge Express) allows housestaff to complete discharge summary paperwork for inpatient stays without using a dictation system (although the option of using dictation is also available). This program has helped to streamline discharge information, incorporates labs, radiology studies and other information into the final discharge summary.

PEPL

PEPL (Partners Enterprise Patient Lists) is used for inpatient signout purposes. This program allows housestaff to keep an active list of inpatients assigned to them. In addition, PEPL acts as a signout list with pertinent information on patients, active issues, attending of record and code status for continuity of care when transferring care to cross-covering housestaff. PEPL also reports the schedule of housestaff coverage.

Apprentice

Residents have access to a program available both through OnCall and certain Smartphones called Apprentice. Inpatient lists in PEPL are integrated into inpatient care by providing ‘to do’ lists that can be shared by all housestaff involved in a patient’s care. By submitting ‘to do’ lists through Apprentice, all members on the team will be able to see these tasks and mark when they are completed (with real time update of the list to all other housestaff). This allows for outstanding tasks to be carried from one day to another, while allowing housestaff to share responsibility without duplicating work.

Mobile Resources

Residents can access specific applications remotely and securely via VPN. Mobile phones, tablet devices, and laptops can be used to access resources provided that they are encrypted/secured. mEHR is one such application that allows residents to view clinical data on a mobile device.

Harvard Medical School Resources

Harvard Medical School’s intranet, eCommons, offers Harvard affiliates access to its vast electronic resources, including Harvard’s Digital Libraries, electronic journals, and other administrative tools.