 |
Louisiana Office of Public Health:
Sanitarians Replace Paper Processes to Streamline
Restaurant, Food Inspections |
The Background: Inspections Key to Public Health Awareness
The Louisiana Office of Public Health is responsible for communicating general health news and issues across the state. One of the department’s ongoing duties is to perform and document thousands of restaurant and food inspections.
The Challenge: Less Paper, More Efficiency
Sanitarians at the Louisiana Office of Public Health have used paper-based inspection reports for years. Results gathered during inspections were recorded on paper forms then manually placed into a database. This reporting method has worked for the sanitarians, but has lacked the efficiency offered by mobile hardware and software packages available today.
The Solution: Motion Features Meet Ultramobile Needs
The Louisiana Office of Public Health chose the ultramobile Motion tablet PC because of its large, bright 12.1-inch display, which allows sanitarians to view a full-page document without scrolling. In addition, officials liked the lightweight, clipboard-sized shape, integrated wireless capabilities, ultra-low-power Intel processor and the pen-based input made possible by Microsoft’s Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system.
The tablets allow sanitarians to generate restaurant inspection reports electronically, and then upload the information for instant access throughout the department.
The Louisiana Office of Public Health team selected specialized software to run on their Motion tablets, for greater consistency in applying the Louisiana Sanitary Code and more standardized inspections by public health sanitarians. The software, written by Steton Technology Corp, includes a checklist of all possible sanitary code violations. This electronic form also takes advantage of the tablet’s pen-enabled capabilities and provides the option to write-in details about any particular violation, if necessary.
Most of the sanitarians received on-site training by Steton Technology to become familiar with the new technology. A group of sanitarians responsible for retail food inspections was the first to use the new technology, which was fully operational in January 2004.
About 120 inspectors have replaced their paper processes with lightweight yet powerful Motion tablet PCs. Also, Motion tablet PCs are being used in every Louisiana parish by state employees who have received on-site training by Motion Computing.
Sanitarians also use mobile cameras, printers and wireless access to complement the Motion tablet PCs. Due to the capabilities and power of the Motion tablet PC, the department hopes to replace all desktop and notebook computers with tablet PCs.
“We reviewed several mobile devices and chose Motion’s tablet PC for many reasons, including ease of use and versatility,” said James P. Antoon, chief of sanitarian services at the Louisiana Office of Public Health. “Motion Computing presented us with the most options and the most value.”
Real Results: Expansion Plans
Sanitarians with the Office of Public Health have conducted more than 5,500 inspections using their Motion tablets PCs and, because they have been able to convert 40 paper forms into one flexible, digitized version, the department has become more accurate and productive in serving the public via a leading-edge inspection process. “The Motion Tablet PC replaces an older method that relied on paper files and handwritten reports,” said Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Dr. Fred Cerise. “Today, we are better able to standardize our inspection reports and provide prompts for our workers to conduct timely follow ups.” The Louisiana Office of Public Health plans to expand this tablet PC-based inspection process to other areas, including milk processing plants, dairy farms, commercial seafood processors, food and drug processors, nursing home inspections, daycare centers and correctional facilities.
