2006

16 January 2006

New theatres computer system improves patient records efficiency

Computer Sciences Corporation and iSOFT Group plc have announced the installation of a new theatres system at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust which enables the storing and retrieval of patient records for the management of hospital operating theatres.

The system – developed by iSOFT and implemented by the CSC Alliance as part of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) – will allow the Trust to instantaneously view patients’ records and to document the most effective treatment, in real time, while a patient is in theatre.

The new system has been developed to benefit patients and clinicians, ensuring all patient information required to manage surgical interventions in theatres is now stored in one accessible place, allowing the trust to maximise its use of available theatre time to ensure optimum throughput of patients. As theatres can also be remotely managed, this provides improved management information and real-time reporting.

In the longer term, the linking of the theatres system to the patient administration system will provide additional benefits by allowing ward staff to gain an instant update to a patient’s progress through a theatre.

Jane Beattie, Clinical Director, Anaesthesia and Theatres, at the trust, said: “The new IT system has already brought significant benefits to both patients and clinical staff, providing improved efficiency and effectiveness of scheduling of theatre slots.”

Patrick Gormley, Account Executive, from the CSC Alliance said: “The introduction of the new theatres system will allow the trust to improve how it monitors resources in theatres and, most importantly, increase the level of service its frontline staff can offer to patients.”