Best use of IT to promote patient safety

This category was sponsored by:

Winner:

A clinical handover solution for the UK acute care sector - Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and Ascribe Consulting

The European Working Time Directive has resulted in an increase in shift work for junior doctors; but poor clinical handover processes and a reliance on handwritten and hastily communicated notes is a significant clinical risk. This solution uses a transferable handover methodology coupled with a secure, intuitive electronic tool to support task completion. It could standardise clinical handover across the NHS.

Finalists

Electronic prevention of potentially fatal blood clots in hospitalised patients - University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Trusts must conduct a venous thromboembolism risk assessment on all patients admitted to hospital. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust created a tool based on its electronic patient record, known as the Clinical Results Report System, to increase the number of VTE Risk Assessments conducted and promote and improve patient safety.

The NePTune solution - Abington Park Surgery

NePTune is a relational database developed to compliment the near patient testing direct enhanced service. By uploading three simple reports from the GP’s clinical software system, it provides an accurate register of patients prescribed potentially dangerous drugs that require monitoring, identifies which patients have outstanding tests, prints off reminder letters, and provides an annual report for claiming the DES.