No more inputting data twice: Southend benefits from integrated systems
In 2002, Southend University Hospital foundation trust had disparate systems that staff were reluctant to use. This case study examines a major project to improve things.
In 2002, Southend University Hospital foundation trust reviewed its technology base and concluded that it would need to create a future-proof infrastructure if it wanted to accommodate new information and business systems and offer patients the best possible service.
"The trust environment had grown organically over many years," says IT director Nick Fernandez. "This invariably resulted in a disjointed infrastructure, with isolated departmental silos only accessible from certain dedicated computers."
Where is the data?
Employees at the trust, which has some 4,000 staff serving 330,000 people across Essex, were unable to search across the organisation and access critical patient data whenever and wherever they needed it. "At the same time, mangers were under increasing pressure from the government to provide more detailed activity reporting and auditing of patient care," says Mr Fernandez. "This created demand for user-friendly IT systems that could support timely data capture and analysis." "
"Employees are using IT far more frequently and can share information in a way that was previously impossible."
A whole new environment
The trust started an infrastructure development programme to address these issues. Between 2002 and 2004, Mr Fernandez and his team deployed a completely new environment, based on Microsoft technologies.
The underlying infrastructure was built on Windows Server 2000, later updated to Windows Server 2003. But the trust also deployed a number of other technologies, including:
- Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server, an Internet portal that allows a greater flow of information across the organisation;
- Microsoft BizTalk Server, a `translation' server that allows different and often incompatible systems to "talk" to each other and share information.
Workers feel the benefits
The changes in the IT system have had a dramatic effect. The trust has a far more resilient architecture with increased uptime. Desktop management means the IT support team can work more effectively.
Employees are using IT far more frequently and can share information in a way that was previously impossible. This has improved communications and patient care and encouraged employees to embrace change and be more innovative.
Key benefits include safer use of patient data. Mr Fernandez says the integration of the trust's databases has allowed it to share demographic outputs with all of its core clinical systems. This avoids the cost of inputting the same data twice, and ensures it is up-to-date and consistent.
The new system also ensures that pathology results are secure and free of transmission systems. The trust has two lab systems from different suppliers, but all lab test data can now be converted into a common set of results, viewable through a web browser.
Fewer cancelled operations
Meanwhile, the theatre-management system has reduced the number of cancelled operations. The system also links in with sterile services.
Employees can now track all stages of the cleaning process for instruments used in operations. And the system can record the history of each instrument over five years, as part of a strategy to protect patients from the theoretical risk of variant CJD.
Further Reading