Mobile Devices Coming to Support Care Teams at CCH
2026-03-21
Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH)
is introducing a new mobile technology this month to help care teams work more
efficiently while caring for patients.
Using secure, hospital-issued
mobile devices on site, certain clinical staff will be able to access parts of
the hospital’s electronic health record system more easily. This means less
time moving computer workstations between rooms and more time focused on
patient care.
In 2016, CCH implemented a
state-of-the-art electronic health record system, eliminating paper charts and
securely consolidating patient information, history, and clinical records for
easy access by staff.
While this system introduced
significant benefits for patient care, outcomes, staff workflows, and
integration, the need to rely on computer workstations to access it can
sometimes be cumbersome in busy and tight clinical environments.
This new mobile approach allows certain clinical staff at CCH to support
patient care by enabling them to:
- Message the right care team member quickly and
securely about a patient’s needs
- Scan patient armbands, medications, and
specimens to support accuracy and safety
- Complete quick tasks in tight spaces, reducing
disruption for patients
- Capture clinical photos, when appropriate, to
add helpful context to a patient’s chart
If you see a staff member or doctor using a mobile device while caring
for you or a loved one, please be assured this is part of this initiative. While
they have a similar appearance, these are not personal cell phones. All mobile
devices used for this initiative are hospital-issued and have been configured
to safely and securely support this work.
Staff will always ask your permission before taking a clinical photo, if
needed, to add to your health record, and you have the right to decline.
If you have any questions or
concerns about why your care team member is using a mobile device, feel free to
speak with them to learn more.
With this initiative, CCH
continues to deliver on its strategic priority to advance innovation in support
of exceptional care.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why are staff using what looks like a cell phone?
Some clinical staff at CCH are using secure, hospital-issued
mobile devices to access parts of the electronic health record system while
caring for patients.
This means that your nurse, doctor, or other clinical health
care team member, may use a mobile device while they are caring for you.
While they may look similar, the devices are not personal
cell phones.
What can staff do with these mobile devices?
The devices help support safe and efficient patient care by
allowing staff to:
- Communicate
quickly and securely with the right care team members
- Scan
patient armbands, medications, and specimens to support safety and
accuracy
- Complete
quick tasks in tight clinical spaces
- Capture
clinical photos, when appropriate, to add helpful information to a
patient’s medical record
Are these devices secure?
Yes. The devices used for this initiative are
hospital-issued and configured specifically for clinical use.
They are securely managed by the hospital and are designed
to protect patient privacy and confidentiality. Clinical photos and information
are stored securely within the hospital’s electronic health record system.
Why might a staff member want to take a photo using the
device?
In some cases, a member of your care team may ask to take a
clinical photo using the device, such as a photo of a wound or other condition
to add to your medical chart.
These photos can help support diagnosis, treatment, and
monitoring of your care by allowing your healthcare team to document and review
changes over time.
Staff will ask for your permission before taking any
clinical photo. You always have the right to decline.
How does this help patient care and outcomes?
CCH introduced its electronic health record system in 2017,
eliminating paper charts and allowing patient information to be securely
accessed by staff on hospital computer workstations.
Mobile devices build on this system by making it easier for
care teams to access information within the electronic health record,
communicate with each other, and complete tasks more efficiently, helping staff
spend more time focused on patients.
Who can I speak to if I have questions?
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to ask
your care team member. They will be happy to explain how the device is being
used to support your care.
