HTN #HealthTechToShoutAbout feature series
Digital transformation and data driven collaboration has risen to the top of the NHS agenda during the Covid-19 pandemic. Day to day challenges, such as minimising the use of paper documents as part of infection control procedures and supporting staff working in different environments, highlighted the importance of high quality digital data.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been using Viper360 interoperable clinical record – both within the hospital and at home for several years to provide both clinical and administrative staff with single sign-on access to an array of patient data – from test results to outpatient appointments to consultant letters.
The trust records over 23,000 patient searches each month in Viper360 and, as Josh Chandler, Associate Director of IT at Bedford, explains, Viper was instrumental in supporting clinicians when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in two key areas.
The initial challenge faced by the trust was to scale up to support the demand for respiratory consultants. Within a couple of days, the trust had created a 24×7 on call rota for all respiratory consultants and doctors to provide round the clock diagnostic support for those treating Covid patients. The respiratory team needed rapid access to patient information, both on and off site, to enable rapid assessment and diagnosis and support the hugely challenging workload.
Josh said: “Using Viper360, we were able to immediately provide the entire respiratory team with secure single sign-on access to key patient information as well as all test results, enabling clinicians to work effectively either within the hospital or from home, as required.”
“In response to staffing difficulties and infection control procedures, the decision was taken to limit the volume of paper moving around the Trust and some clinics stopped requesting and receiving any patient paper records. For clinicians who had always relied on paper records, often several inches thick, to support patient consultations, this was a huge challenge – not least for those who were working in unfamiliar departments, with previously unknown patients, covering for staff who were either unwell or had been redeployed elsewhere.”
“Clinicians needed to be able to get to know the patient within a few minutes – and Viper provided a single source of information that enabled them to get an overall picture of a patient’s experience with the Trust very quickly.”
“Clinicians could check cardiology history, track blood results – including any outstanding, and see recent in- and out-patient visits and the relevant consultant. With immediate access to any letters generated by various systems, including discharge, the clinicians were able to achieve rapid insight into the patient history.”
“Feedback from the clinicians was extremely positive – with many confirming that, despite the extraordinary changes in working practice, there had been no degradation in the level of care they were able to provide.”
With the Trust now embarking on an Electronic Document & Records Management System (EDRMS) project to digitise all paper records, this cultural shift and confidence is key. As he says, “You don’t get many chances with clinicians if a system is inadequate or limits their ability to deliver care, they will not use it. The ability to provide immediate access to patient information using Viper has provided clinicians and consultants with the experience of a paper-free patient consultation and that has helped to transform behaviour and confidence in IT.”
For a demo of Viper360, speak to an interoperability consultant on 0845 680 3249 or email hello@restartconsulting.com.
