NHS Lanarkshire trials Patientrack digital patient observation system in ED

NHS Lanarkshire recently piloted a new digital system at University Hospital Monklands to enhance patient care in the emergency department. The Alcidion Patientrack system helps to assess patients’ conditions upon arrival and prioritize their treatment accordingly. This innovative technology eliminates the need for paper charts by allowing clinical staff to enter vital clinical observations directly onto iPads. The system automatically calculates a National Early Warning Score (NEWS) and displays real-time observations on a large touchscreen monitor, enabling clinicians to make informed decisions quickly. Dr. Gordon McNeish, an emergency medicine consultant at the hospital, noted that Patientrack has significantly improved patient safety and efficiency in the ED. The successful trial at University Hospital Monklands has led to the system being implemented in other acute hospitals within NHS Lanarkshire, including University Hospital Hairmyres and University Hospital Wishaw. This initiative is part of the digital transformation plan for a new hospital set to open in Airdrie in 2031, aiming to establish Scotland’s first fully digital hospital.