Collaboration and

communication technology

at the heart of hospital

transformation

Dean WestcottDirector of Finance, NHS West Essex

Vice President, ACCA

March 2010

• ACCA approach and experience

• Background to NUH project

• Solution

• Early findings

ACCA approach and experience

Previous eHealth studies:

• The cost benefit of electronic patient referrals in Denmark

• Telecardiology in Italy: benefits from a telemedicine network connecting chronic patients, general practitioners and healthcare provider organisations

Background to NUH project

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

• Large acute teaching trust formed on 1 April 2006

• 2 separate campuses

• Population 2.5m

• Over 13,000 staff

• 1,600 beds

Background to NUH project

Operational review

• Poor infrastructure

• Communication issues

• Quality of care implications

Solution

• Trust wide business case

• Cisco proposal

• Outline solution

Solution

Emergency department

• Geographically distinct

• Front door of hospital

• Growing demand

Solution

Nov 2008

Installation of core infrastructure commenced

Oct 2009

Implementation of telephony services in ED utilising fixed

and portable handsets featuring:• a phone directory

• a staff locator

• push to talk functionality

• group messaging system

• automatic updates from clinical systems

Early findings

• Patient waiting times

• Patient value added time

• Patient satisfaction

• Indicative cost savings v investment

• Staff satisfaction

‘Surprisingly the installation of the new technology

has actually increased human interaction.

The new system has the human factor – you ring and

can talk to someone at the other end. This human

element mixed with technology supports a more

collaborative working environment.

Richard Tucker, Superintendent Radiographer, ED, NUH

Thank you