new YORK (Reuters) – when a group of residents of Medicine of the University of Chicago were given an iPad to enable to use it in his work, detected that use Tablet helped them to be more efficient when they asked for analysis and testing to their patients.

A study of the University program, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, followed 115 residents who received the device purchased by the hospital.

The majority of residents who used the devices to access the medical history of patients and coordinates your care said that it reduced an hour of daily work. In addition, tended to more quickly send requests for testing.

“Current medicine is very connected with information and a large amount of data is stored, but computers are not beside the bed (of patients),” said Dr. Bhakti Patel, lead author of the study from the University of Chicago.

But using tablets, residents can view the analysis results instantly and request what you need the patient just decides the treatment. And everything from the room of the patient.

After the good results of a pilot study on some residents, the team of Patel handed iPads 115 residents of internists in late 2010. The manufacturer of the iPad, Apple, did not give funds for the study.

Residents could consult the medical histories, communicate with the laboratory or other areas of the hospital to request studies show patients their x-rays and other outcomes, and to consult scientific journals.

Devices had keys to safety and infection control experts helped the team maintain clean tablets, according to details of the study.

A few months later, four of every five residents felt that they were more efficient in the halls and 68 per cent said that the tablets had avoided delays in care.

Residents sent the same number of requests for analyses and tests than before, but sent a greater number within two hours of the entry of patients.