Mobile technology from three health tech suppliers has supported staff at Royal Surrey NHS FT deliver safer care during the past months.
Utilising smartphones from Ascom, single sign-on from Imprivata and two-way video consultation technology from Attend Anywhere, it has reduced the number of clinicians needed to do ICU ward rounds. The technology in result has enabled one doctor to link remotely to other colleagues during ward rounds, and safely communicate with them through the video tech.
Consultant Intensivist and Anaesthetist Justin Kirk-Bayley said: “Usually we have four or five doctors on each ward round. That was becoming impractical with coronavirus patients and limited PPE supplies.”
“Now, just one doctor goes into the quarantined sector of ICU and coordinates a ward round via video on the smartphone, which is projected onto a screen to the team in a meeting room. It is a lot slicker, more efficient, and safer. The technology is giving us back the time that we have lost to COVID-19.”
“One patient who was awake and doing well was able to see and talk to her husband for nearly an hour. The technology worked fantastically well. Nurses will be staying in touch with relatives day-to-day using video on the smartphones.”
Claire Richardson, Clinical Nurse Specialist said: “We have introduced virtual visiting on all 14 of our adult in-patient wards and in our departments and community hospitals. The system is ideal for this purpose. A member of staff takes the smartphone to the patient and can quickly and easily sign on to Attend Anywhere for them via SSO with one tap and no need for passwords.”
“Virtual visiting has made a tremendous difference to our patients and relatives and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. A COVID-19 positive patient who had not seen his wife for five weeks was able to see and speak to her. Another patient whose condition was deteriorating had a virtual visit from his son, who told staff it was reassuring to see him so well looked after. The system has been particularly beneficial to our elderly patients who do not have their own devices to have visits with their loved ones and I’m confident it has helped in their recovery.”
In a recent webinar as part of HTN Digital Week June 2020, we welcomed Daniel Johnston, Clinical Workflow Specialist, Imprivata and Wes Wright, Chief Technology Officer, Imprivata. The presentation focused on some of the lessons learned during COVID-19 from the company:
