WOW Weeks – What We Heard

As part of Meditech Expanse planning and readiness efforts, Workstation on Wheels (WOW) pilot weeks recently took place in several units at St. Joseph’s Care Group Hospital by their Project Team.

The Project Team coordinated an opportunity for staff to explore how WOWs may support future clinical workflows while providing valuable feedback on both workflow design and technology functionality.

During the pilot, teams tested the equipment in real clinical settings and shared feedback on both workflow and technology considerations.

Key Themes from the Pilot

Workflow

• Strong interest in using WOWs to chart at the bedside.
• Questions about future-state Meditech Expanse workflows, including chart reconciliation and monitoring processes.
• Discussion about secure messaging and communication with Physicians and other Providers.
• Considerations related to documentation access after discharge and medication administration workflows.
• Suggestions for additional supplies.

Technology

• Scanner light brightness and mounting location.
• Privacy screen options.
• Screen lock timing.
• Integration of accessories such as vital signs machines and cleaning supplies.
• Battery charging, and battery replacement processes.

What Staff Told Us

In addition to questions and suggestions, we also heard positive feedback from staff:

• Staff were highly engaged and interested in understanding future workflows.
• A nurse with previous Meditech Expanse experience shared positive observations from another organization.
• One nurse reported that completing bedside admissions with the WOW “cut my time in half” and described the overall experience as positive.

Actions Already Underway

• Scanners will use a horizontal orientation to reduce light visibility concerns, and the scanner can also be turned off and on using a barcode command.
• Future WOWs will include Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality so staff can tap out to immediately lock the device when stepping away.
• Privacy screen options are being reviewed through the procurement process.
• Discussions are underway with the WOW vendor regarding additional equipment integration and workflow-supporting accessories.

Devices are Arriving: From Planning to Reality

One of the most visible signs yet that Meditech Expanse is beginning to appear in hospitals across Northwestern Ontario — the devices that will support the new system are starting to arrive.

Over the coming weeks, thousands of new devices will be delivered to hospitals throughout the region, including Workstations on Wheels (WOWs), desktops, mobile devices, printers, scanners, and other technology that will support care teams when Meditech Expanse goes live.

What Staff Can Expect

As devices arrive, organizations will continue important infrastructure and wireless improvement work to ensure the technology performs reliably in clinical environments.

Staff may notice activity in patient care areas, offices, corridors, or nursing stations as equipment is installed and supporting work is completed behind the scenes. This could include technology upgrades, installation work, or visits from local teams and contractors supporting deployment activities.

Local IT teams and organizational leads are working closely with departments to coordinate this work and minimize disruption to day-to-day operations.

Keeping Teams Informed

Communication and coordination will be key throughout this phase of the project.

Organizations are committed to keeping clinical teams, departments, and impacted areas informed about upcoming work in their spaces and any temporary impacts that may occur. The goal is to ensure deployment activities can move forward while minimizing disruption to patient care and daily operations.

Opportunities to See the Technology

For many staff, this may also be the first opportunity to see some of the technology that will support future workflows in Meditech Expanse.

As deployment activities continue, many organizations will be encouraged to begin showcasing new devices and creating opportunities for staff to become familiar with the equipment that will support care delivery in the future.

Whether it’s a Workstation on Wheels rolling through a unit for the first time or new technology being installed in clinical areas, these moments represent important milestones on the journey to implementation.