Enhancing theatre management
THE Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is rolling out a theatre management system in an effort to improve utilisation and patient care across its hospitals. The TheatreMan solution from Trisoft will replace the current in-house system which has been in use for 18 years. Introduced as part of the trust’s Transforming for Excellence quality improvement and cost efficiency programme which it launched last year, TheatreMan will assist in scheduling and patient management, as well as driving improvements to stock control and inventory processes. Christine Walters, associate director of information management and technology at the trust, said: “We implemented our current system almost two decades ago. It has served us well, but with advancements in technology and medical procedures, there are risks around the technical and operational support of this product.”
Social networking helps patients
A FREE social networking website for hospital and housebound patients has been developed by a community interest company in the North East. JustVisiting.com allows patients and carers to create secure online ‘visiting rooms’ where they can meet up and talk, allowing users worldwide to access news of friends and family and help create support networks. Almost 30 NHS trusts around the country are now promoting the site to staff and patients and more than 15,000 users have registered from around the globe. Christine Cock, a GP at West Farm Surgery in north Tyneside, said: “This is a brilliant idea. I will certainly be promoting it with my patients. Being able to log onto a website specifically designed for people to communicate and update their families and friends on their progress is a real breakthrough in the patient’s support system.”
Nomination for whiteboard technology
The whiteboards have been an exciting project for us all and the team has worked very hard on the development and rollout. They help to enhance the experience for our patients by helping staff work even more effectively
NEW technology developed by staff at Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust has received national recognition by being shortlisted for a major innovation award. The trust’s information management and technology team has developed electronic touch-screen whiteboards that provide clinical staff with instant access to vital information about patients. The technology has now led to the team being shortlisted in an innovation category at the national 2011 E-Health Insider Awards, which recognise the way IT helps to improve healthcare. The large electronic whiteboards have been in use on wards at Trafford General Hospital since May last year and are linked to the electronic patient record system, enabling staff to access all the clinical information they need. Julie Treadgold, directorate matron for medicine and rehabilitation at the trust, said: “As nurses, it helps us to work even more quickly and effectively. The whiteboards are now the focal point of the ward and a key part of our team handovers.” Steve Parsons, head of IM&T, added: “We are really excited to have been shortlisted for the award. The whiteboards have been an exciting project for us all and the team has worked very hard on the development and rollout. They help to enhance the experience for our patients by helping staff work even more effectively.” The team will find out whether they have won the award at a ceremony in London on 6 October.
Suffolk hospital deploys data capture software
AN ELECTRONIC document imaging and data capture system is set to be implemented at West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust. The software from Version One will reduce the time spent on manual entry of purchase invoice data and will integrate with the hospital’s accounting system. David Swales, assistant director of finance at the trust, said: “To maintain our status as a top-performing hospital in England, it is important that we continue to invest in leading-edge technology that improves both efficiency and our service offering. By removing the need to photocopy, post and physically store 45,000 invoices on-site, Version One’s technology will free-up vital storage space and cut administration costs, allowing us to better utilise hospital resources for patient care.”
ALSO IN THE NEWS:
PhoneFactor have announced a reseller partnership to provide phone-based authentication services to NHS trusts using Imprivata systems.
Capgemini has been chosen as the preferred bidder to run NHS 24, Scotland's provider of national telehealth and telecare services. As part of a new IT infrastructure programme, Capgemini will run clinical applications and patient contact management services as part of a £100m deal running over 10 years. A second contract will be awarded next month covering other applications, infrastructure and managed services.
Featured companies
- Companies:
- Trisoft
- Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
- Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust
- West Suffolk Hospital NHSFT
