Clinical Evaluation of a Novel Technology for Oral Patient-Controlled Analgesia, the PCoA® Acute Device, for Hospitalized Patients with Postoperative Pain, in Pilot Feasibility Study

Figure 2

Comparison of pill provision processes evaluated in the study. (a) Current procedure involves the following steps. The patient feels acute pain (1). The patient calls the nurse (2) and waits until the nurse’s attendance (3). The nurse reviews the patient’s prescription and time of previous drug intake (4). Once new pain medication intake is approved, the nurse goes to the nurse station and retrieves the drug safe key (5). The nurse opens the drug safe, dispenses the medication, and documents drug withdrawal (6). The nurse returns to the patient’s bedside and provides the medication (7). Only then the patient receives the medication (8) and the nurse documents pill intake in the patient’s record file, located at the nurse station (9). (b) PCoA Acute process. The device is located near the patient’s bedside and the procedure comprises only 3 steps: the patient feels acute pain (1). He is registered at the device (by the RFID wristband) (2) and can immediately receive his medication, subject to therapy restrictions (3).

(a)

(b)