Mobile health IT streamlines communications between providers and medical emergency teams. Jason Barnard, associate chief information officer for Veterans Integrated Service Network, gathered the following eight tips for successful mobile technology.

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1. Eliminate extra pagers for internal emergency committees, such as code-blue teams.

2. Critical clinical alerts, such as lab tests and cardiology and radiology studies should be reported within four hours.

3. Identify immediately which provider will receive reports in case of a hand-off.

4. Support logistics processes to improve bed turnaround and decrease emergency room delay times.

5. Notifications should be sent without relying on multiple media, such as cell phones, pagers and email.

6. Hands-free technology reduces the risk of infection.

7. Improve operating room communications by upgrading old or obsolete devices.

8. Offer support to the Rapid Response Team.

Ed. -- This list appeared in the Sept./Oct. issue of Government Health IT.