Wolverhampton PCT deploys digital pen technology
WOLVERHAMPTON PCT has announced plans for a major investment in digital pen technology, an innovation recently described by Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, as critical to improving the efficiency of NHS services.
In a move that should free up more time for clinicians to spend with patients, as well as reducing costs and improving data quality, the organisation has signed a four-year contract, which is expected to save a total of £1.2m.
The single most important source of data is the patient’s own care record; the data that’s recorded and updated as they progress through their treatment
As part of the deployment, more than 600 clinicians across the trust will use digital pens supplied by Destiny Wireless to record their community contacts – more than 45,000 a month – on patient activity records printed on digital paper. The data from these records will then automatically be entered into iPM, the trust’s central electronic patient record system.
The move comes just weeks after Lansley said in a speech to the Health Informatics Congress in Birmingham: “The single most important source of data is the patient’s own care record; the data that’s recorded and updated as they progress through their treatment.
“Many real gains will come from being able to harness the full potential of this record. To do that we need to improve the way this information is recorded, how it’s used and how it’s shared.
“Think of the inherent complexity of treating a typical hospital inpatient. Multiple conditions, multiple diagnostics, multiple treatments. Then multiply that complexity by a whole ward, add a gap between seeing a patient and writing up their notes, and you start to see why it can be so difficult to keep a patient’s record 100% accurate.
People are already using mobile devices like digital pens to improve and speed up record keeping. Better data, less form filling, superior care
“But, what if a doctor or nurse could tap her lapel and record what they need to there and then? Their voice could be translated into text for review and then added to the patient’s record.
“This is hardly beyond the realms of possibility and people are already using mobile devices like digital pens to improve and speed up record keeping.
“Better data, less form filling, superior care.”
Stuart Cooper, head of IMT strategy at Wolverhampton PCT, said the procurement of digital pens followed a year-long process during which the trust carried out a thorough competitive review combined with practical research and testing to ensure the benefits they envisaged would be fully realised. The successful use of the same technology by Derbyshire Mental Health Trust also provided a valuable benchmark.
He added: “Until recently, all of our clinicians recorded community contact information on a paper diary and then either re-entered it themselves on iPM or passed it to an administration clerk to input. This manual process took up to five days or even longer and consumed time that could be better spent with patients.”
Laptops were recently trialled as a potential way of speeding things up, but were not pursued due to problems with inconsistent 3G coverage as well the associated costs and support that was required.
We’re getting a positive response already as people see how simple digital pens are to use and how they save time both for clinical and administration staff. They’re much quicker and easier than laptops and less of a barrier with patients
With the Destiny system, clinicians will use digital pens based on Anoto Technology to write out their forms in the normal way. They are then automatically time and date stamped, with the option of reviewing and verifying key data at the point of entry. The clinicians then follow a simple docking process using the pen’s built-in USB connection and a PC router to automatically transmit the recorded data. Destiny software residing on servers at its secure NHS data centre then converts the handwriting into text using Visionobjects Handwriting Recognition software before transmitting it back to the iPM patient record system as a pdf copy of the original form and as an xml data file. All this happens in less than a minute after docking.
In addition to freeing up time for patient care - around one hour a day for each member of clinical staff - the trust also expects to be able to reduce administration time and cost. Filing, storage and shredding of paper copies of records will also be greatly reduced and service planning improved as patient records will be updated much more quickly and accurately.
Chris Ragdale, senior project manager, said: “The form design uses a lot of tick boxes rather than relying on lengthy writing, so the process is faster and more accurate. Verification within the forms should mean they’re right first time, and our data quality team can look at any rejected ones and quickly validate or correct them. We can already see real benefits in the future for new areas like assessments.”
Kam Rai, the trust’s clinical programme manager, added: “We’re getting a positive response already as people see how simple digital pens are to use and how they save time both for clinical and administration staff. They’re much quicker and easier than laptops and less of a barrier with patients.”