Question

In an inpatient hospital setting you'll rarely see nurses marking paper charts these days. Instead, they're rolling around a COW (Computer on Wheels) so they can enter your information into your EHR directly. What are some of the pros and cons of the COW?

Answer 1

Computer on wheels is a device which can be seen mostly at the hospitals where nurses enter their patient's observations and records.

PRO's:

• Minimizing medication errors.
• Quick reaction and treatment.
• Minimizing wrong diagnosis.
• Saves time.
• Cost effective.
• Promotes patient safety.
• Real time charting.

CON's:

• Occupies space.
• Risk of being theft.
• Less patient interaction as the nurses will be busy charting and not engage with the patient.