Not too long ago, paper was the norm in medical settings. From prescription pads to handwritten patient charts, pen-and-paper documentation was the standard.
Over the past decade, that has shifted dramatically.
In classrooms and educational lab spaces, however, paper and laminated charts are still common. Mohawk College's Centre for Healthcare Simulation and Research is working to change that.
At the centre of this shift is the LUCKY eMAR created by Mohawk College Simulation Specialist Sachith "Lucky" Pathirana.
An eMAR (electronic medication administration record) is a digital charting system used to document medications, patient assessments and other healthcare information.
"I would say pre-pandemic, a lot of the healthcare systems were still using paper-based charting. The pandemic really helped push the switch to electronic databases," says Pathirana.
That shift created a disconnect. Students trained on paper charting were entering clinical placements where everything was digital.
Building a solution from experience
Lucky Pathirana, who is also a licenced nurse, brought his expertise to the simulation lab space.
"When I worked as a clinical instructor, I saw the gaps that my students faced at placement. They were encountering electronic systems, and they weren't as well prepared for that," he says.
Training students on eMARs, such as Epic and Oracle, has been challenging because educational licences don't exist for these very expensive, robust systems.
Built in-house on Microsoft Excel, the LUCKY eMAR system is designed to evolve alongside healthcare practices and curriculum.
"The beauty of it is it's easy to use, adaptable, and it can be expanded upon," says nursing faculty member Jephinah Pandhoo.
While called an electronic medication administration record, the LUCKY eMAR goes far beyond medications.
"[The system] has orders and care plans so that the students would see it as if they were out in the various facilities," adds nursing professor Joanna Peschke. The system is designed to mirror what students will encounter in real clinical environments.
Learning safely through simulation
In simulation, students use the LUCKY eMAR as part of interactive patient scenarios on high-fidelity mannequins. They assess patients, administer medications and document care, all within a controlled environment.
That ability to learn through trial and error is critical in healthcare education.
For students, the system within the simulation lab setting offers something that textbooks and paper charts alone cannot: hands-on preparation.
"It helps you get started into what you're going to have to do in clinical," said practical nursing student Tia Wilson-Payne.
She notes that hospital documentation can be overwhelming, especially without guidance. Although taught in the classroom and labs, documentation is an element of students' medical training that most students must experience first-hand to fully grasp the concepts.
The LUCKY eMAR provides that missing foundation.
For internationally educated nurses, the tool is especially valuable.
"It provides a training version," says Pandhoo. "[It] helps [the students] to be a little bit more at ease and more comfortable in the transition into clinical practice."
The benefits extend beyond students. Faculty are also gaining insights that can be incorporated into their teaching to reflect modern healthcare systems.
"It helps faculty understand what is out in the facilities and helps students navigate those systems once they go into the field," says Peschke.
As healthcare continues to evolve, so too must the way future professionals are trained. At Mohawk College, the LUCKY eMAR is helping ensure that students don't just learn nursing skills, but that they practice it in a way that reflects the realities of modern healthcare, ensuring they are ready to enter the field with confidence.
