IT Innovation Award
sponsored by Call Systems Technology
The need for timely, effective information in healthcare is key to realising the benefits of the huge investments in NHS staff and buildings. This award will recognise the most innovative introduction of new technology for storing, retrieving and distributing data throughout the NHS.
2011 Winner
NHS Connecting For Health - Managed Video Conferencing Service
The N3 Managed Video Conferencing Service (N3MVC) uses N3 as a platform to deliver an integrated video conferencing service across the entire NHS. The platform opens up video conferencing to everyone in the NHS with no additional network infrastructure to purchase. External organisations are able to connect their solutions as guests through the ISDN, N3 On-net or via the Public IP Gateway. N3MVC is supplier agnostic, allows seamless mixing of equipment speeds and integrates different classes of equipment to get the best experience, no matter what type of endpoint is used. The project has brought existing technology into productive use. The success of the N3MVC is demonstrated with the speed of the return on investment and take-up. In the first year the system has hosted over 10,000 hours of videoconferencing.
Commended
Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust - Urgent Care Triage and Access Service
Access via Primary Care referral to urgent care health services in Wolverhampton had multiple routes which caused confusion as well as a higher than normal amount of duplicate or inappropriate referrals. The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust developed an in-house IT and telephone system – The Wolverhampton Urgent Care Triage and Access Service (WUCTAS). Through the expertise of the specially trained clinical triage nurses, in negotiation with GPs using the system, patients are navigated using alternative pathways e.g. diagnostics, conference call with specialist consultants, demand management in EAU through booked appointments. Successes to date includes a 10% admission avoidance since implementation in November 2010 with a further increase predicted as the system beds in.
Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Digital Pen & Paper
DBHFT had linked yet distinct business processes that needed a solution to improve care whilst also enabling them to receive income to the Trust. Doncaster required a solution that would record patient experience data easily, reliably, quickly and securely; have limited or no training requirements and update the Quality Team teams daily with accurate information at the click of a button. Along with its private sector partner, the Trust set about designing a Digital Pen solution which now means a patient, carer or member of staff can fill in a patient experience form using a digital pen, then dock the pen at a laptop or PC on the ward, and every morning data is combined from all surveys and a single CSV file is sent to the Quality team for their analysis and reporting.
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2010 Winner
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Pharmacy Robots
The trust dispenses more than 200,000 items a year and when fully implemented 80% of those items will go through its pharmacy robots. When patients or members of staff take a prescription to the pharmacy, the robot scans a prescription code. It can then links this to a database that logs the location of the drugs on the shelves. A robotic arm selects them, places them on a conveyor belt and sends them to be checked by pharmacy staff before being given to the patient.
Commended:
NHS Rotherham - Digital Pen and Paper
Traditionally, Rotherham Community Health Service (RCHS) physiotherapists used pen and paper to record such profession-specific information, and the drawings would be added to the patient’s paper file. Having moved to an electronic patient record system, digital pens now allow the team to capture the drawings directly in electronic format. A PDF copy of the notes is created, which can be added to the patient’s electronic record. RCHS is currently extending its use to other departments with similar needs.
Kirklees Community Health Services - Mobile Working projects
In 2009, Kirklees Community Healthcare Services decided implement mobile health working to make staff more effective. Now, more than half of KCHS’s community care staff are equipped with BT Mobile Health Worker, a mobile solution that supports patient care at the point of care. Semi-ruggedised laptops allow carers to access KCHS’s clinical records application, the internet and email via secure mobile Virtual Private Network connections that safeguard patient confidentiality.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust - A&E waiting time information provision
ULH provides patients with a free mobile service that replies to a text message with the word WAITING sent to 64746 with the latest waiting times at accident and emergency departments in four sites. Live webcams can also be viewed on its website, and the Trust has developed a downloadable 'dashboard widget' that provides guidance about getting the right treatment.
NHS Bristol - Healthcare iPhone application
This application provides details of every health service in Bristol, including GP practices, walk-in centres, minor injury units and dentists, and includes contact information and the service’s GPS location. Other features include an In Case of Emergency (ICE) option, an alert appointment reminder service and recorded messages with instructions on how to deal with specific health emergencies.
