Technology
When Østfold Hospital Trust, located southeast of Oslo, Norway, faced a common challenge – a discrepancy between the number of available beds and the number of patients requiring them – they turned to DNV Imatis to optimise bed capacity management. Previously, the hospital relied on manual
processes which were time-consuming and prone to errors. With the new solution in place, real-time updates on digital whiteboards provide a real-time overview of patient locations, ward capacity and resource allocation. This enhanced visibility facilitates communication between departments, streamlines patient transfers and ensures appropriate care for patients, even when they’re outside their primary care area. Ward managers can collaborate and allocate patients effectively. If a patient in another ward hasn’t been seen by a doctor, nursing staff can directly contact the responsible clinician to coordinate care and plan discharge. The digital solution is flexible and adaptable,
allowing the hospital to quickly respond to changing capacity needs and bridge the gap between bed availability and patient occupancy. When the Western Norway Regional Health Authority introduced a similar eBCM system, it reported an impressive 15-20% increase in productivity across the region.
Automating blood sampling and testing Digitisation offers a significant opportunity to enhance patient safety in the critical area of blood sampling and testing. Manual blood sampling processes, still common in many hospitals, rely on manual steps which are vulnerable to a range of errors. Samples might be drawn from the wrong patient, sample tubes could be misplaced or forgotten, and results can be delayed by time-consuming data entry. Additionally, errors can occur when there are multiple active requisitions for the same patient, leading to potential duplication or confusion if a new request isn’t communicated promptly to the nursing team. Working in close collaboration with Østfold Hospital Trust, DNV Imatis developed a blood sampling app which is designed to support hospital staff in efficiently and securely managing blood sampling and testing by integrating both the lab system and the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) where the pathology request is generated. The app creates a closed registration loop.,
which not only reduces the likelihood of double sampling, but also ensures patient safety and boosts efficiency, ensuring that lab results are delivered more quickly and accurately. In
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I February 2025 RCHT has created a quieter and more supportive environment for both patients and staff
fact, Østfold Hospital Trust reported a two- hour faster response to blood tests from the lab. Moreover, the app streamlines interaction between nurses and the lab teams, helping both sides work together seamlessly for better patient outcomes. The app requires nurses to scan their ID card, the patient’s wristband and the blood sample vial, verifying the identity of the healthcare provider, patient and the exact time of sampling. This prevents sample mix-ups and ensures that only authorised staff handle patient specimens, significantly reducing the potential for error. For blood transfusions, the process goes
even further. After scanning their ID card, the patient’s wristband and the blood bag, the app verifies that the correct provider is administering the transfusion to the correct patient with the correct blood type, replacing the previous manual double-check by two nurses. This automated verification process enhances safety by minimising human error and providing an added layer of assurance.
Looking to the future From role-assigned task management to advanced alarm management and patient engagement solutions, the latest digital solutions are empowering healthcare providers to deliver safer, more efficient and personalised care. By investing in innovative solutions and embracing cutting-edge technologies, healthcare providers can significantly improve patient outcomes, reduce errors and create a more efficient healthcare system.
About the author
Matt Jeffreys is Commercial Director of Healthcare at Wandsworth Group. Having joined the company as a factory employee in 1997, Matt has progressed through the business, holding a range of roles – from assembly and wiring to engineering, planning and sales. He has played a key role in the development of Wandsworth’s cutting-edge healthcare solutions over the years, and has an in-depth understanding of the industry’s ever-evolving legislative landscape. In his current role as Commercial Director of Healthcare, Matt oversees Wandsworth Group’s healthcare division, delivering innovative, value- add solutions for customers and profitability for the group. He also heads up the division’s end-to- end operations – from new product design and development to procurement, sales, installations, customer service and aftersales support.
CSJ
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