What action must users take if they finish using a computer in the ED?

After finishing the use of a computer in the Emergency Department (ED), it is essential for users to sign out of the system. Signing out helps to maintain the security and integrity of sensitive patient information, preventing unauthorized access to confidential data.

By signing out, users ensure that their personal session is closed, thus protecting any ongoing work or data from being accessed by the next user. This practice is particularly important in healthcare settings where patient privacy and data security are paramount.

While shutting down the computer, leaving it on, or logging off the network may seem like viable options, they do not provide the same level of security as signing out of the system. Shutting down the computer could lead to loss of data that has not been saved, and simply leaving the computer on can expose personal information to anyone who might use it afterward. Logging off the network may not completely end the session in specific applications, potentially leaving them vulnerable. Therefore, signing out is the best action to take.