SusQI Project Report - Improving access to electronic notes in the community - Barts 2019 Green Ward Competition

SusQI project improving access to electronic notes in the community delivered as part of The 2019 Barts Health NHS Trust Green Ward Competition. 

Project Aims: To improve access to electronic notes in the community setting.

Results:

Environmental benefit: Forecast annual savings of 235 kgCO2e.

Social sustainability: Benefits to staff include an increased likelihood of staff going home on time, reduction in low value work (travel and data entry) and frustrating work (meaningless duplication) for the team. All of these have a potential to increase job satisfaction and staff wellbeing.

Financial benefit: Forecast annual saving of £1,228 in travel costs and use of resources, even after capital investment and running costs of iPads considered (assuming an iPad will last for 5 years). A further annual saving of £8,118 was forecast due to savings in staff time related to unnecessary travel and duplication of documentation. This amounts to a total annual saving of £9,346.

Clinical outcomes: Saving time could allow more patient reviews to take place and reduce wait times. More timely availability of notes to other healthcare professionals will help to contribute to safer care and greater accuracy of notes; during the project it was noted that there was sometimes a delay of 1-2 days before paper notes were entered into the electronic system.

Further Information:

You can read more about the projects and savings by downloading the attached case study.

You can read more at the Green Ward Competition | Centre for Sustainable Healthcare webpage