Quick Summary
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is making significant strides in its digital transformation journey by transitioning from paper-based records to digital clinical noting. This initiative, in collaboration with Alcidion, aims to improve efficiency for healthcare professionals and lay the groundwork for future advancements in artificial intelligence and smart technology.
Key Achievements
- Doctors are saving an hour daily on administrative tasks.
- Nurses have reduced handover preparation time by 50%.
- Over 1.8 million paper documents have been eliminated, including 102,000 discharge letters sent electronically to GPs.
Improved Workflow and Patient Care
Dr. Andrew Adair, Chief Clinical Information Officer, highlights the enhanced efficiency and safety in ward operations due to standardized and accessible digital notes. The integration of various regional systems into a single electronic patient record has streamlined access to critical patient information.
Initial Implementation and Rollout
- The Miya Precision platform was deployed as a trust-wide electronic patient record.
- Key areas such as patient flow, e-observations, and electronic prescribing were prioritized for digitization.
Positive Feedback from Staff
Healthcare professionals have expressed satisfaction with the intuitive design of the Miya Noting system, which has been tailored to meet their needs. Clinicians have reported a smooth transition, with many noting the system’s user-friendly interface.
Future Developments
- Plans to introduce AI technologies for tasks such as generating discharge letters and handover documents.
- Integration of robotic process automation to enhance data collection from various systems.
Impact on Patient Safety
The digitization of clinical noting is expected to improve patient safety by enabling timely reviews and assessments. The system allows for easy tracking of compliance with clinical guidelines, enhancing overall care quality.
Conclusion
As South Tees Hospitals continues its digital transformation, the focus remains on leveraging technology to improve patient care and operational efficiency. The successful implementation of digital clinical noting is just the beginning of a broader strategy to integrate advanced technologies into healthcare delivery.