More beds this winter

App happy
Kiosks to
cut queues
5
Newly-appointed doctors at our
hospitals now have a wealth of
guidance at their fingertips with
the help of a new app developed
by one of our doctors.
Dr Adrian Kwa has designed and
developed the app which replaces
hundreds of pages of online
guidance documents.
Since its launch at the end of July the
app has been downloaded by more
than 1,000 users.
Dr Kwa said: “Finding approved
treatment guidance was a challenge
for junior doctors using the old
computer system, when all the
information available is stored in
department file structures.
“Our new app works differently
– enabling users to search for
conditions as well as find the
information in multiple places. The
time this saves could be critical.”
The app works without internet
connection and has features to
ensure guidelines are always kept
up-to-date. Over 600 guidance
documents can be viewed via the
platform, with more than 1,300 ways
of reaching them, all within threeclicks
on the intuitively-designed
menu system.
Dr Adrian Kwa with the new NUH Guidelines mobile app
Other health providers have brought
guidance apps to market but to date
none have the simple usability of the
NUH Guidelines App.
Dr Kwa’s app has also been shortlisted
in the inaugural East Midlands
Innovation in Healthcare awards.
This project has been supported by the
Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
Check-in kiosks have been
installed in our outpatient clinics
to reduce patient waiting times.
Patients visiting for appointments
can now check-in without standing
in line at the front desk using new
self-service kiosks.
The devices work in a similar way
to the kiosks in GP surgeries,
where patients enter their details
into the system and check-in.
They still have the option of
checking in with reception staff
but our staff are on hand to help
people use the kiosks.
Lisa Lawrence, our Project
Manager for the new express
check-in system, said: “We know
that many of our patients can
find standing for long periods
uncomfortable, particularly
pregnant women and people with
mobility problems. That’s another
reason we want to make check-in
as fast and easy as possible.”
New look website
We’ve made our
website simpler and
clearer for patients,
carers and jobseekers,
including adding an
interactive map of our
wards and clinics.
The new look improves
the three most
commonly visited
sections of our website:
+ + Directions and maps
+ + Details about services
+ + Information about
working here
Users can click on a list
of wards, clinics and
departments at City
Hospital and QMC to
highlight them on the
new map.
Visit the website
at www.nuh.nhs.
uk – every page has a
comment form so you
can tell us what you
think.
Handheld devices
replacing paper
Doctors and nurses in
our hospitals are now
using smart phones and
tablets to record and
share information about
patients.
The introduction of our
new e-Observations system
will entirely replace paper
notes on our wards by
early 2015.
The devices run a
software programme
that automatically alerts
a senior physician if
a patient’s condition
deteriorates – saving
valuable time.
Following successful
pilots the new system is
being rolled out across
both hospitals. Medical
staff have found many
advantages of going
digital.
Dr Mark Simmonds said:
“The time the new system
saves has surprised us all. I
can view live patient records
without needing to contact
colleagues for updates.
“This means we can spend
more time talking to
patients rather than chasing
down paperwork.
“Working in such a large
and complex organisation,
being able to view records
remotely is another
advantage. Clinicians will
literally have information
on their patients at their
fingertips wherever they are
in the hospital.”
The project has been
financed by the Safer
Hospital, Safer Wards
Department of Health
initiative and the NHS
England Technology Fund.