The project, which started a year ago at The QEH, records patients’ vital signs, helps staff and improves the quality of their care.
The system known as POMS – Patient Observation Management System – also lets staff speak to each other using a secure ‘WhatsApp-style’ app instead of the traditional bleep system.
Leah Edgley, ward manager on West Newton Ward which was the first to go live with the new technology, said: “It has made great improvements in patient care, leading to more accurate patient investigations, timely treatment, and helps us to manage patient care in the best way possible.
“We can monitor patients’ vital signs in real-time and therefore quickly identify patients that need our help, enabling us to be alerted more quickly and improve the care of that patient.”
Pippa Street, Chief Nurse at The QEH said: “I am very proud of how the teams here have taken to the new digital system and are using it well to deliver patient care as accurately and efficiently as possible.
“The observation tool records vital signs and creates a numerical score that helps to escalate deterioration in patient conditions. We have also replaced existing patients ward boards with digital smartboards which has made a difference to the quality and efficiency of care.”
Jonathan Reddington, Director of Digital at The QEH, said: This is a key milestone for The QEH when it comes to building on the progress the we have made to support our staff to deliver safe and compassionate care through improving our digital infrastructure.”
In the last 12 months more than 200,000 patient e-Observations have been taken and just under 1,500 members of Team QEH are using the ‘Whats-app style’ communication tool.
Ends.
Notes to editors;
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