Business technology company Datacom has ventured into a new field, setting up Datacom Healthcare Solutions as well as buying a 20 per cent stake in health informatics company SmartWard.
Canberra-based SmartWard is a software system which automates rostering systems, records and workflow for nurses, resulting in increased time spent with patients as well as fewer errors.
Datacom director of investments Mark McWilliams said: "We are looking forward to combining our organisational capability with SmartWard and working in unison to rapidly apply the benefits of their solution to address the needs of healthcare providers in our region."
Clinical trials using SmartWard found it reduced time spent on paperwork by automating it, letting nurses spend more time on higher-value tasks, as well as increasing the time spent with patients.
The study found that increased time spent with patients resulted in higher quality of patient care with fewer errors, faster recovery times for patients and higher job satisfaction for nurses.
