Hospitals around the country are piloting the use of Google Glass, including doctors at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital. The doctors scan a QR code on the door outside the patient’s room and have immediate access to the patient’s entire health history. Other uses for Google Glass include recording surgeries to stream live and having consultations with remote specialists.
Nurses at a number of hospitals are already using tablets that connect with patients’ electronic medical records, and when Google Glass becomes more readily available, it will be a natural transition for nurses to use this hands-free device to access patient data.
Wearable technology can also help detect when nurses themselves are in need of care. A bracelet that monitors vital signs could alert a supervisor when a nurse is fatigued and in need of relief from his or her shift before an error occurs.