MedCom: Enhancing Communication and Medication Management in Costa Rican Public Hospitals

MedCom is a cutting-edge solution designed to improve intercommunication between nurses, pharmacists, and doctors in Costa Rica’s public hospitals. This system is essential for ensuring that critical information is seamlessly shared between shifts, thereby enhancing the accuracy of medication dosages and eliminating the need for patients to manage their own medications.

Relevance:

Medication management challenges often lead to duplicated tasks and errors, significantly impacting patient care in Costa Rican hospitals. MedCom addresses these issues by streamlining communication and ensuring that all healthcare professionals have access to up-to-date information.

Context/Problem:

• Delays in Medication Delivery: Medications are frequently dispensed with considerable delays.
• Discrepancies in Indications and Prescriptions: There are often issues between what is indicated and what is prescribed.
• Inefficient Prescription Processes: The process of moving prescriptions is not optimized.
• Loss of Information: Critical information is often lost during shift changes.

Design Concept:

Requirements:

• Modular Design: The system should be modular to adapt to various hospital environments.
• Patient Guidance: Patients should receive clear indications on when to take their medication.
• Integration: The design should blend seamlessly with the hospital environment to build trust.

Current Dosage Journey Map:

Final Proposal:

MedCom is a modular system designed to organize medication and ensure quick access to notes left by healthcare professionals across shifts.

How It Works:

Module Assignment:
Healthcare workers assign a module to a patient by entering the patient’s ID and scanning the module’s NFC tag with an iPad. Workers then choose between the communication or dosage interface.

Dosage Management:
Each module consists of four compartments, each with a light that activates when it’s time for the patient to take their medication. Pharmacists can see which pills go in each compartment via the app and manually check them before setting an alarm.

Intercommunication:
MedCom allows healthcare workers to send notes to specific groups (doctors, nurses, or pharmacists). Recipients can mark messages as solved or reply if needed, preventing information loss and ensuring continuity of care.

With MedCom, the medication delivery process becomes smoother and more seamless. Healthcare workers can verify dosages accurately, ensuring that patients receive the correct medications on time. This system not only improves efficiency but also enhances patient safety and care quality.