Trinity Hospital added a new level to the electronic record system called eCare this week.

On Tuesday, a big change happened...mainly affecting doctors...but patients too.

Perry Olson tells us about it in this week's Eye on Health.

As a patient, you might not notice much, but the way you are cared for has changed at Trinity Hospital in Minot, now instead of doctors writing orders out by hand...

"The doctors actually doing their orders electronically in the computer."


It is an addition to the computer system that has been in operation at Trinity since October of 2006...

"This will enhance the safety of the eCare system and the patients safety."


Red vested company officials have been patrolling the halls this week helping anyone who needs it...

"The biggest change for doctors is that they are used to writing orders and having someone interperet. Now they are ordering what they want directly into the computer system."

"At a nurses station you'll see charts with orders that need putting in. Obviously they can't all be in and active at the same time. Now with the doctor doing that, soon as he hits send it is off. It is not dependent on someone else. Labs, X-Rays, the results will be done quicker."


That should lead to more bedside time for nurses who will have a large workload lifted off their shoulders. And this new system is good for family members too, this new big screen in the operating room waiting area will offer loved ones instant information...

"There is going to be a tracking board for patients in the OR that is accessible to family members so they can look at it and know what is going on with their family."


All of this is possible...thanks to a small computer chip...with a big impact. With your Eye on Health, Perry Olson, KX News. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list