Sírio-Libanês Hospital is recognized for its history of excellence and leadership, as well as its pioneering role in healthcare and medical research in Brazil. The hospital cares for more than 120,000 patients annually at its 100,000 m² complex in São Paulo's Bela Vista district and three additional locations: a diagnostic center and ambulatory hospital in Itaim Bibi; a multidisciplinary clinic in Jardins; and an oncology center in Brasília.
One of the main objectives behind the hospital's decision to select UpToDate Anywhere was to leverage mobile devices to support the continuous medical education of its clinical staff while enhancing the quality of patient care. The UpToDate app allows easy access via a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) to over 10,500 clinical topics, whether the clinician is in an exam room with a patient, in an office, at an off-site clinic, or at home. The clinical decision support tool has improved patient safety at Sírio-Libanês Hospital and increased efficiencies in diagnosis and treatment.
According to Dr. Luiz Francisco Cardoso, Director of Inpatient Medicine at Sírio-Libanês Hospital, “Since UpToDate is a clinical decision support system created by physicians and based on evidence, both the online version which we have used since 2010 and the recently deployed mobile version are extremely useful in the daily routine of the institution's professionals.”
Dr. Cardoso adds, “UpToDate enables the clinical staff to stay abreast of the best clinical practices. At any time, UpToDate can provide answers to questions on patient treatment and diagnosis, making a direct positive impact on patient safety and the efficiency of care.”
UpToDate was originally implemented at Sírio-Libanês Hospital in 2010 and usage has grown every year. Initially, UpToDate was only accessible through the intranet of the hospital's scientific research area via onsite computers. In November of 2014, with the deployment of UpToDate Anywhere, access became available through any computer or mobile device, on-site or off-site.
“UpToDate Anywhere represents a key advantage in our ability to obtain better results in improving our clinical staff and in boosting the quality of care and patient safety. UpToDate supports our constant goal of providing more and better care. We were very encouraged when we first learned we could support our employees not only outside of the hospital, but also with access on their mobile devices,” says Dr. Cardoso. He adds that “the options for patient consultations are much more flexible now—anytime and anywhere that is convenient for patients and physicians.”