North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with InterSystems, has revolutionized its ward admissions process by implementing a digitalized system that empowers nurses to focus on patient care over paperwork. This initiative signifies a significant advancement in healthcare efficiency.
The new process, integrated into InterSystems’ TrakCare EPR, ensures real-time patient records and minimizes errors associated with manual data entry. It enables seamless access to reliable patient information for the care team.
Prior to digitalization, NHT’s admissions involved cumbersome paper documents, consuming valuable nursing time. This resulted in challenges accessing patient information promptly and efficiently, with an estimated use of 33,616 documents annually across its 18 in-patient wards.
Recognizing the need for change, NHT’s clinical and digital teams collaborated to implement a seamless digital workflow with key benefits. It provides real-time patient records digitally, reducing errors and enhancing care quality.
With support from nursing teams, 674 nurses and HCAs underwent extensive training for the project launch. Emma Watson, a matron at NTH, praised the inclusive approach, stating, “The team continuously made changes based on our feedback, considering us as the end users.”
Marie Collingwood-Graham, digital program senior project manager, emphasized the value of clinical input in training sessions, contributing to a holistic perspective. As the project progresses, NTH plans to extend digitization efforts to various healthcare areas.
Earlier this year, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust expanded patient engagement initiatives by offering more outpatient services through the MyHealthCall portal and the NHS app.
