About the Client:
The Manor Hospital, part of the Nuffield Health charity, has gained an international reputation for excellence. It offers patients premium services in neurosurgery, cardiac care, orthopedics, and cancer care. It features a specialist pediatric ward, a 7-bed intensive care unit, and a 6-bed PACU, ensuring patients receive the best care. The hospital is dedicated to delivering safe and compassionate care.
Challenge:
Streamlining Patient Discharge and Enhancing Remote Communication for Better Healthcare Efficiency and Patient Experience
The client faced challenges in managing patient discharge efficiently and effectively. They wanted a system that could provide the healthcare team with real-time information about patients' discharge status and assist with the discharge process, while being compliant with the NHS Digital Standards and The Data Protection Act. Additionally, there was a necessity for improved communication with patients, particularly the ability to connect with them remotely via text chat. The main objectives were to:
- Speed up patient discharge with real-time status updates
- Increase bed turnover by optimizing bed utilization efficiently
- Improve patient communication through remote text chat capabilities
- Ensure compliance and security with NHS and Data Protection standards
Given these challenges, the task was to develop a secure Patient Discharge Management System (PDMS), that includes real-time tracking of patient discharge status, enhanced communication tools for remote text chat with patients and streamlined discharge task management for the clinical team.
Solution:
Creating a Custom Patient Discharge Management System (PDMS) for Enhanced Discharge Process and Better Patient Experience
To address the client's needs, our IT Medical team developed two integrated platforms: a Mobile Patient Admission Platform and a Cloud-Based Patient Discharge Management System (PDMS).
Mobile Patient Admission Platform:
- QR Code Scanning: Upon admission, patients scan a QR code attached to their bed at the hospital to complete the admission process. This reduces wait times and eliminates manual data entry, making the admission process faster and smoother for both patients and the hospital staff.
- Personal Details Registration: Patients provide personal details, including medical history and contact information, and are assigned to a specific doctor and bed. This ensures healthcare providers have all the necessary information to manage patient’s discharge effectively.
- Staff Communication: The platform enables easy communication between patients and staff through a secure, user-friendly group chats. Patients can ask questions, request help, and get responses, simplifying and speeding up the discharge process without leaving their bed.
- Real-Time Updates: Patients receive timely updates about their discharge status, keeping them informed throughout their stay. This reduces anxiety and helps with post-discharge planning by letting them know exactly what to expect and when they will be discharged from hospital.
Outcome:
Transforming Patient Discharge Processes at The Manor Hospital
The first version of the project was completed in less than six months, at which point live testing began on one of the wards. During this period, feedback from patients and hospital staff was collected and used to develop Version 2 for a wider system release.
- 17% Increase in Bed Turnover which has allowed for more effective use of hospital resources, accommodating more incoming patients and optimizing bed availability.
- 11% Reducuction in Average Length of Stay with patients are now able to be discharged more quickly, freeing up beds and improving patient flow, leading to better resource utilization.
- Over 25,000 Messages Sent with over 5,000 patients discharged in the first six months, facilitated by streamlined communication and better digital patient experiences.
The implementation of our Patient Discharge Management System (PDMS) at The Manor Hospital has significantly improved discharge processes, leading to notable enhancements in operational efficiency and patient satisfaction. By streamlining communication and ensuring smoother patient transitions, the hospital has been able to optimize bed usage and improve the overall patient experience.
United States
