Improving Rural Healthcare in Mobile Clinics: Real-Time, Live Data Entry into the Electronic Medical Record Using a Satellite Internet Connection

Details

• Journal Article:
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Personal Author:
  Smith, Daniel J. ; Mizelle, Elizabeth ; Ali, Nina ; Cepeda, Valery ; Pearson, Tonya ; Crumbley, Kayla ; Pimentel, Dayana ; Herrera Suarez, Simon ; Mueller, Kenneth ; Phan, Quyen ; Ferranti, Erin P. ; Modly, Lori A.
• Description:
  The Farmworker Family Health Program (FWFHP) annually supports 600 farmworkers in connectivity-challenged rural areas. Traditional paper-based data collection poses validity concerns, prompting a pilot of direct data entry using tablets and satellite internet to enhance efficiency. The purpose of this article is to describe, using the TIDier checklist, a real-time, live data-entry EMR intervention made possible by satellite internet. Utilizing a customized REDCap database, direct data entry occurred through tablets and satellite internet. Patients received a unique medical record number (MRN) at the mobile health clinic, with an interprofessional team providing care. Medication data, captured in REDCap before the mobile pharmacy visit, exhibited minimal defects at 6.9% of 319 prescriptions. To enhance data collection efficiency, strategies such as limiting free text variables and pre-selecting options were employed. Adequate infrastructure, including tablets with keyboards and barcode scanners, ensured seamless data capture. Wi-Fi extenders improved connectivity in open areas, while backup paper forms were crucial during connectivity disruptions. These practices contributed to enhanced data accuracy. Real-time data entry in connectivity-limited settings is viable. Replacing paper-based methods streamlines healthcare provision, allowing timely collection of occupational and environmental health metrics. The initiative stands as a scalable model for healthcare accessibility, addressing unique challenges in vulnerable communities.
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Occupational Health Rural Health Services Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Farmworker Health; Real-time Data Entry; Satellite Internet; Healthcare Accessibility; Mobile Clinics Farm Workers; Health Care; Data Processing; Electronic Health Records; Electronic Devices; Computer Equipment; Information Systems; Community Health; Mobile Equipment;
• Source:
  Int J Environ Res Public Health 2025 Jun; 22(6):842
• ISSN:
  1660-4601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; New York ; Georgia ; Atlanta Region [OSHA] ; New York City Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  11 pdf pages
• Volume:
  22
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071485
• Contact Point Address:
  Daniel Jackson Smith, School of Nursing, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
• Email:
  dsmith55@buffalo.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  East Carolina University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20240901
• End Date:
  20270831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1a3be6a532de8442a95c0822288bd8c21a54c77545b811a9f97b01e5316dbac0aa2f6e4b4d3607ca39d515d7393a880a9c050a6b9fa6e474ac42e7c09d988556
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/259083/cdc_259083_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 538.67 KB ]