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One of the newest, rapidly increasing trends in Healthcare Information Technology is called BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Healthcare employers are now allowing their employees to use their own personal mobile devices for work. Today, these devices allow employees to work longer and more efficiently, while being accessible on the road and at home, if needed. Users can access the EMR remotely to review a patient's Vital Signs, Lab Results or CT findings. CPOE providers can place orders from their tablet, or enter a Progress Note or review test results and medications. In fact, some hospitals are now hosting "Open Houses," where physicians can have their mobile devices set up for CPOE access, prior to going live with a new software release. This allows the physician time to become comfortable with accessing the EMR from their personal device, and makes the transition much more seamless once the new system is live. User satisfaction should increase in most cases because employees are using equipment that they have independently purchased, as opposed to devices that have been company mandated. Moreover, it also eliminates the need to carry a personal and a work device. Along with user satisfaction will be better productivity because users will be more comfortable using their own device that they are experienced with and understand all the functionality that it offers. There will also be a smaller learning curve for users; however, there will always be the need for further education as devices, software and apps progress. Allowing employees to use their own technology will also offer cost savings because the user typically picks up the cost on the device that they own. Sometimes users will get compensated for expenses they occur for business such as phone use and data plans. Ideally, employers will not have to focus so much attention on making sure their hardware is up to date as users typically update their devices on their own. However, there will always be outliers who do not update their devices as frequently, and it will still be role of the IT department to make sure personal mobile devices are functioning properly and monitor for important updates that need to be installed on the devices. The use of mobile devices whether solely for business or for business and personal use, brings an innate amount of security risks. Many personal devices do not require passwords to access them, as opposed to company issued devices, which typically do. However, even companies who issue their own equipment, have problems with their employees using the devices for more than business. There will always be greater security risks with mobile devices than stationary devices. Just as dealing with any PHI, the onus and trust fall upon the user. New technology called Container Technology allows the IT department the ability to segment an area out of your Smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device to securely store and transmit data for work purposes only. Containers are said not to overlap or interfere with personal space on personal mobile devices. In addition IT professionals also have the ability to wipe out these containers entirely if the employee leaves the company or if the device is stolen or lost. Container protection is simply software that is downloaded on to the device. Overall, the future indicates that mobile devices will continue to be used in the healthcare industry as mobile technology continues at the forefront of our everyday lives.
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