Vanessa:
Re: wireless vs. wired. I agree: wire as much as possible.
Re: tablets in the exam rooms. There are several here among us that use them, and they have their advantages:
1. You carry the tablet out when you go, limiting patient access to medical data, especially if you don't trust your clientele (I don't necessarily).
2. They don't take up much space, if space is limited (mine is).
3. It is an intuitive interface. Holding a tablet and inputting with a stylus is similar to scribbling notes on a patient chart, and so I think it is less intrusive in the clinic setting (certainly much less intrusive than peeking over a monitor at someone while you type, or -- heaven forbid -- turning your back to them).
4. Of course, it is very easy to take them to a nursing home, or on a housecall.
5. They're kind of cool.
All that being said, they have their drawbacks too.
The interface can take some getting used to. My nurses did not do well with the stylus at first, but they are getting used to it. You have to figure out which data is best to enter with handwriting recognition (and the settings for that have to be tweaked), which are best entered with the on-screen keyboard, what can be turned into a template, etc. That all takes time. You will need to "make friends" with your tablet before you open your doors and start seeing patients with it.
Comfort is the next issue. You need to get the lightest thing possible, especially if you're going to be carrying it in the crook of your arm quite a bit. An extra pound adds up over the course of the day. A bump case with straps adds comfort, prevents minor dings and scuffs, and will help you have something to hold onto, to prevent falls.
Note that I use Fujitsu tablets with no integral keyboard. You can get the kind of tablet that folds into a laptop mode, but it will add weight. (I think that's the kind Vinny uses, but I don't know if he carries it room to room, or leaves it in the room).
I have an inexpensive wire stand for the tablet, which dwells in the general vicinity of a wireless mouse and keyboard for a more traditional interface. You can set the tablet in the stand, type what you wish, then pick up the tablet and you're instantly mobile again. (You can also use speech recognition with a tablet, but that's a whole 'nother subject).
I hope this is helpful. Please share your experiences with us as it is a help to us and to other new users.
