Plunket is paving the way for other organisations in the mobile app arena with its new PlunketPlus App for Windows 8 tablets.

The App is the first of its kind worldwide and is designed for Plunket nurses across New Zealand to have real-time access to information while working with a client.

Some of the key features of the app are:

• A clients full history with Plunket is arranged in a single-view timeline 
• Appointments can be scheduled by a ‘drag and drop' of the client profile into the planner
• Interactive zoom allows for multiple views of the planner (hours, days, weeks)
• A simple checklist for nurses to work through during appointments

The App reflects the simple design of Windows 8, with interactive touch-screen tiles.

Plunket has got Marker Metro on board for the design and development of PlunketPlus, identifying the key tasks for nurses and putting them at the forefront of the app.

ICT General Manager ICT at Plunket Craig Le Quesne says the app will be a result of a lot of behind the scene work as Plunket changes all of its paper records to digital.

"The actual developing of the app is a small part of the process in proportion, but it is the most exciting. We are going from filing cabinets to tablets which changes the whole process and work flow."

Plunket has launched a pilot that is being tested with 10 field nurses, and Mr Le Quesne says the response has been positive beyond just the digitalisation.

"The general feedback is that the nurses have had more eye contact and more time with the client."

Mr Le Quesne shared the following advice for other organisations thinking of developing an app:

• Turning a work system from paper to digital is the biggest step, the app is the most fun
• Work in a team to solidify your requirements, put the biggest needs at the forefront
• Take time to find the right ICT support who will help you through the whole process, from project to business and later maintenance

Plunket has not set a date for the release of PlunketPlus, saying they will not go live until after the feedback and refining process.

"We'll take the learnings from this trial and use the feedback to make changes and refine the app. The purpose is to get it right, not to meet a calendar schedule," says Mr Le Quesne.

Plunket have made a short video to display the timeline feature of the app here.

Windows 8 for not-for-profits

Microsoft donates licenses of Windows 8 to eligible not-for-profits in New Zealalnd. For more information, visit our Windows 8 Resource Centre.