Pennine hospital introduces whiteboards on wards

Published: 12-Dec-2011

Electronic technology helps trust beat bedblocking


Electronic whiteboards are being introduced in 97 wards across five hospitals run by the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The iSOFT-developed technology replaces traditional hand-written whiteboards and is interfaced to the trust’s patient administration system, giving clinical staff visibility of patients and bed status.

Currently the data shown includes patients’ names, ages, rooms, bed numbers, consultants’ names, admission date and expected discharge date.

Mike Heaton, senior project manager at the hospital, said: “Consultants like it because they can search and locate their patients instantly across different wards without having to visit the ward, quiz nurses or decipher handwritten boards.” He added that the system is already saving time as information in highly visible on 42-inch plasma touchscreens.

“Nurses are no longer faced with constant interruptions which allows them to focus more time on patient care,” he said. “And bed managers can plan their workflows and admissions without having to visit wards to find empty beds, which is a huge timesaver.”

It is hoped the solution will eventually help the hospital to avoid bedblocking.

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