Musgrove Park Hospital, a Global Digital Exemplar is introducing iPads for doctor and nurses and has introduced a range of apps to support its services.
The trust received £10 million in funding to support the digitisation of its hospital, and now 10 out of 25 wards are using tablet devices to update patient information when and where they need to.
The three-year programme of work involves building software with clinicians and replaces physical whiteboards so staff can quickly see which patients need an assessment and can prioritise those who are otherwise fit to go home.
In the coming months the Hospital will also digitise the process of prescribing medicines. Using portable computers-on-wheels or laptops, medicines will be prescribed, administered and reviewed using an electronic drug chart instead of paper notes at the end of patients’ beds.
The Hospital is also utilising an app for patients referred for weight management treatment. Developed with University College London students, the app aims to reduce patient waiting time by directing to the right health professional in the right order for their individual needs, based on a series of medical and dietary questions. The app provides a link between patients and their clinicians to track their progress and manage their care remotely.
A second app developed in collaboration with the university focuses on patients coming to Musgrove Park for surgery. Using an iPad, patients fill in a pre-operative checklist which updates their clinical information and means nurses can assess if they need any further checks before they are deemed fit for surgery, based on their age, weight, and lifestyle. Once trialled, this could be completed at home and avoid a trip to hospital.
The hospital has also digitised outpatient departments, with staff recording patient information electronically so that all their information is in one place and can be accessed quickly when needed.
Mr Tom Edwards, consultant surgeon and chief clinical information officer at Musgrove Park Hospital, said “Fast access to information about patients is absolutely crucial for our doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff. Safe and effective digital systems are vital.”
“Safety alerts will be immensely useful, but it is important to remember that, whatever technology we use, it will still be our highly trained and expert staff who are making decisions about diagnosis, treatment and patient care.”
