Using technology to improve patient care

In the light of Lord Darzi’s report in which he sets out his vision of “high quality care for all”, there is increased pressure on NHS Trusts to provide a greater level of patient safety and quality of service than ever before. In critical care, in particular, an immediate medical response may be required at times when resources, in terms of consultant expertise, are limited. The ability to access and share crucial medical information securely and remotely, in real-time and in accordance with Government compliancy levels can be critical to the safety and continuity of care for patients. This need has led many NHS Trusts to invest heavily in IT, which in itself presents a number of challenges. Not least of these is the serious concern surrounding data breaches, particularly within the healthcare sector where security and confidentiality are so crucial. 

Secure solution 

Three years ago, Dr Loua Shaikh, a consultant intensivist and anaesthetist at Frimley Park Hospital was looking for a way to gain secure portable access to his NHS Trust emails. At the time, there was no digital solution for sharing data outside of Frimley Park’s network, and transferring large files via the NHS email system could end in distorted data. Intensivist care situations can require a consultant’s opinion at any time. Dr Shaikh often found himself travelling to the hospital to make decisions which, with the right technology, could have been made off-site by viewing patients’ files remotely. He identified that enhancements to the current systems deployed at the Trust could positively impact on patient care. As a result, Dr Shaikh decided to research options to enable a productive flexible working situation. Following a pilot scheme within the adult intensive care unit last year, the ISEEU Clinical Workforce Accessibility solution was rolled out across the Trust. ISEEU Clinical Workforce Accessibility incorporates highly secure functions including the facility to connect remotely to all administration and clinical applications; coupled with data transfer technology to virtually courier patient data. A secure virtual medical meeting centre is also incorporated within the solution. Multiple healthcare professionals can virtually meet and simultaneously view and discuss patient files – saving travel time, cost and enhancing efficiency and resources. Ultimately, the solution enables around-the-clock, secure access to patient files and consultant expertise. The technology integrates seamlessly with the hospital’s own systems and, most importantly, for patient data security, complies with the hospital’s own governance and security levels.