As the NHS moves away from traditional paper based processes in the quest to reach the savings challenge of £20 billion within the next four years, it is essential that cutting-edge and fit-for-purpose technologies are used to complement new electronic working practises.

Mobile hardware is available in a variety of platforms, but the most widely used and successful examples are:

• Laptops and Netbooks
• iPads and Tablets
• Smartphones
• Digital Pens and Dictation

Laptops and Netbooks

Portable Laptops and Netbooks enable clinicians to capture clinical activity and patient information in a non-clinic setting or on the wards, eliminating the need to haul around paper notes and return to a central hub between patient contacts. Using Therapy Manager on a Laptop or Netbook, clinicians have the option to download any patient information (including Appointments, Notes, Assessments and Key Demographics) onto a secure offline database. Clinicians can then assess the patient details and record any clinical information, and on returning to a site with network access, they can simply reconcile the data with the central server in seconds.

Tablets and iPads

Tablets such as iPads are becoming increasingly common within the NHS as they have the ability to display vast amounts of information, replacing the need for paper and the requisite costs of these printing processes. NHS Orkney has introduced iPads into their meetings for all board members at an estimated annual saving of £28,000. They are also being introduced for patient use, as Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham distributes them to individuals undergoing hand surgery, which is said to have significantly alleviated stress and anxiety levels. Tablets may be able satisfy the clinician’s growing demand for information and data right at the point of care, and can allow them to share images and data directly with the patient, resulting in higher levels of interaction and engagement.

Smartphones

Smartphones can have a number of uses both as a method of recording activity by clinicians and as a monitoring tool for patients. NHS Bristol has utilised Windows 7 and Android phones to implement a telehealth system amongst 600 patients with conditions such as heart failure issues, encouraging them to then answer health questionnaires about their symptoms. The Bluetooth capacity on the handheld devices also enables patients to link to other devices such as blood pressure monitors and scales. Information recorded on smartphones is encrypted and can then be transmitted directly to community workers who are alerted if a patient’s data shows any sign of deterioration in their condition. Systems like this have the potential to reduce the number of home visits required by clinicians, ensuring that contacts only occur when necessary, ultimately increasing service capacity.

Digital Pens and Dictation

In some environments, the use of pen and paper for the time being may prove unavoidable. In these instances, clinicians can record information using digital pens by writing on digital paper which transmits data directly into the Trusts Patient Administration System.  As a result of digital pen use, Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust have experiences an overall 75% reduction in staff time. Digital dictation can also help to improve efficiency and reduce delays in the distribution of documentation to GP’s and other healthcare professionals.

Effective utilisation of mobile technologies coupled with a Therapy-specific EPR such as Therapy Manager can help to ensure that clinicians are provided with the tools to perform to the highest standards, which will help to streamline working processes, reduce costs and ultimately improve the patient experience.

About Pathway Software

Pathway Software (www.pathwaysoftware.com) specialises in the design and development of patient information systems for Allied Health professionals.

Its flagship product, Therapy Manager, is an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system specifically designed for Therapy Services to provide decision makers with the ability to track and manage clinical activity and analyse cost of care by patient, episode or service. The system also demonstrably reduces administration time and the costs of managing Therapy Services.