Integrated GP Order Comms supports a paperless NHS
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) chose ReStart and Clinisys ICE to provide GP Order Comms. 47 practices can now order pathology tests and view results electronically.
The challenge: paper-based process open to errors
GP pathology samples are sent to RD&E along with a paper request card. Laboratory staff input the request information into the SWIFT LIMS (Laboratory Information Management system).
Pathology staff are experts in illness and disease so this manual process diverts valuable resources and exposes the system to error. For a patient this could mean the wrong tests are completed or the same tests are requested multiple times from different sources.
The solution: electronic requests, results and guidance
ReStart worked in partnership with CliniSys and the RD&E to implement GP Order Comms – integrating ICE, the trust PAS & Pathology systems within the trust HealthShare Connect Integration Engine (TIE).
GPs now access ICE via a secure web application to order blood tests. Once processed at the RD&E pathology lab, the results are sent back via the TIE to the requesting GP.
A pilot was undertaken with five GP practices prior to full roll out across Exeter and Mid and East Devon.
The results: improving care quality and patient experience
The end to end interoperable system eliminates paper and errors whilst providing guidance for doctors and practices nurses at the point of care. The right tests are selected for the specific problem, guiding staff in busy clinics as to best practice. Staff can also view pathology tests undertaken in secondary care to reduce the chance of duplication.
ReStart’s integration work directly contributes to the trust’s MY CARE transformation strategy – a single Electronic Patient Record system (EPR) that sees paper-based records a thing of the past.
“As well as the obvious benefits in terms of simplicity and accuracy, we hope to use it to develop peninsular-wide order sets that will ensure the best possible use of our pathology services, and improve our investigation and treatment of our patients” Dr Cressida Auckland, Pathology Clinical Lead, RD&E
To find out more about how ReStart can help your organisation go paperless or integrate GP Order Comms, please get in touch.
