NHS Lanarkshire is to launch a digital check-in and triage system for patients arriving at its accident and emergency department, to gather key patient information at the point of arrival.
Planned to roll-out over the upcoming weeks, first at University Hospital Monklands, and then followed by a phased roll-out to University Hospital Wishaw and University Hospital Hairmyres.
The solution is said to offer a self-registration process for patients to enter key information upon arrival, based on the Manchester Triage System, the questions are designed to flag high-risk patients. The health board notes that self-registration can be completed in six minutes, aiming to support its existing process of staff-led triage.
Testing, staff training and stakeholder engagement activities are underway in preparation for the launch, with the first kiosks expected to go live at Monklands by the end of April. Work has also begun to put in place the necessary infrastructure for eTriage at University Hospital Wishaw’s emergency department, as part of general improvements designed to enhance patient experience.
Claire Ritchie, interim director of NHS Lanarkshire’s Interface Directorate, called the introduction of eTriage a “proactive step” in enhancing patient experience, adding: “Importantly, this system will support and enhance our existing processes — not replace them — ensuring that emergency care teams have better visibility and coordination.”
The role of digital and data in prioritising patients and streamlining triage
For a recent HTN Now webinar on the topic of digital pre-op assessments, we were joined by panellists including Abi Burrows, pre-op, prehab & NCSEM matron, ambulatory care at Nottingham University Hospitals; Dr Katie Misselbrook, consultant paediatric anaesthetist at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital; and Dr Lara Mason, director of product at Isla Health. The session focused on ways in which digital can support pre-op assessments, and how a digital first process supports waiting times in line with NHS elective recovery goals, and streamlines pre-operative triage across a patient caseload.
A panel discussion from earlier this year looked at ways data can help support transformation in primary care, supporting operational efficiencies and improving outcomes. Panellists included Kathryn Salt, assistant director of primary & community care, data and analytics for the Transformation Directorate, NHS England; Dr Shanker Vijayadeva, GP lead, digital transformation for the London region at NHS England; Dr Sheikh Mateen Ellahi, GP and practice partner at ELM Tree Surgery and South Stockton Primary Care Network; and Max Gattlin, digital consultant at X-on Health.
An update from Mid and South Essex ICB also highlighted the “significant rollout of increased digital tools” that support the total triage approach, sharing how the system is tackling issues around demand with an increased number of practices implementing the total triage approach, and transitional funding in place to support practices in implementing new approaches.
