A Scottish SME has developed a real time, multi-functional patient flow and bed management system to enable clinical and management staff to efficiently manage patient care and view a real time bed state. The system is in use at 15 sites in the UK.

By replicating existing clinical information tools (for example whiteboards, handover forms) electronically, the system gives users real time, easily understood information, presented via an intuitive graphical interface, with drag and drop functionality.

Developed with the input of clinical and mangement staff, this system allows staff to monitor admissions, discharges, bed availability, bed blocking and patient needs across all wards and so allocate patients to the best locations to maximise quality care. Key features include:
- Real Time Bed State
- Ward Whiteboard Display
- Electronic Patient Record
- Bed Managers Tools and Reports
- Bed Requesting and Tracking
- Automatic Consultant Team Patient Lists
- Team Case Loads
- Activity Alerts and Action Tracking
- Ward Handover Notes & Doctor's (Teams)Handover Notes
- Observations and Assessments
- Doctor's Take List Management

The system benefits various users including Ward Nurses, Ward Managers, Matrons, Consutants, Doctors of all grades, Bed Managers, Site Coordinators, Discharge Managers, Social Workers, Radiology staff, Pharamacists and other specialists. In addition the solution provides controlled and restricted access to Porters, Receptionsts and other Admin staff who may need to locate a patient but can see no other details.

The system is easy to use requiring minimum training (approximately 40 - 45 mins) which has resulted in maximum engagement by existing customers.

The system has a number of add-ons including:
GP Direct - listing pre-admit General Practicioner (GP) referrals.

Mobile Medic - electronic bleep and information system allowing doctors and site-coordinators to communicate while on the move.

Infection Tracking - automatically recording all patient movements and time, identify isolation beds, tracking bed cleans, monitoring infection levels etc.

Electronic Discharge Letters - helping doctors produce complete, accurate and legible discharge summaries quickly and easily.

Pharmacy Patient Tracking - allowing Pharmacy Teams to track the medicines reconciliation process for every patient admitted.

The system is offered as a standalone product or as part of a suite of software solutions aimed at various aspects of healthcare management.

Innovative Aspects:
The Scottish company has been recognised by the UK investment and enterprise community for its innovative solutions.

This patient flow solution replaces an approach that in many places is still paper based and thus ineffective and error prone.
Used in multiple locations in the UK, the system has shown the following benefits:

" Instant, real time, visual, accurate picture of the status of the patients and the bed state;" Clinician friendly format increases clinical engagement;" Wide range of executive management, performance reports created from data collected;" Facility to accurately predict bed status in any time frame through accurate predicted Discharge Dates;" Discharge process improved;" Highlights problem discharges in advance;" Improve communication and reporting, assist handovers;" Dramatic reduction in time spent filling in paper by hospital staff.

 

Patents/Rights: Copyright(s) registered

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