PORTLAOISE ROLLS OUT RESPIRASENSE INITIATIVE Following on from the launch of the Irish National Early Warning Score (INEWS) V2 in September 2021 to support early recognition of the deteriorating patient the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise introduced Automated Respiratory Rate Monitoring (ARRM) with the Respirasense software and quality improvement initiative. Respiratory rate (RR) is a highly useful measure in monitoring respiratory health and is predictive of mortality in pneumonia and cardiopulmonary arrest. Despite strong evidence that abnormalities in respiratory rate are an early predictor of preventable patient deterioration, it remains the most inaccurately measured and recorded vital sign. The RespiraSense patient device is made up of a lobe and sensor. Digital readings from the device when attached to a patient are then fed into an iPad docked at the nursing station on each designated ward. The Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise introduced Respirasense, supported by Director of Nursing Sandra McCarthy, Clinical Director Dr John Connaughton, and the hospital senior management team following engagement at national level with the HSE implementation team. The formation of a local implementation group was tasked with the roll out of this new nursing service quality improvement initiative. Discussion with Stakeholders for IT requirements locally began and commencement of on-site education at ward level July 2021. The required IT supports for connectivity were installed in September 2021. Engagement with IT and patient services management was central to the smooth installation. Information sessions for consultant physicians and Director of Nursing Sandra McCarthy prior to launch, as well ongoing engagement with Clinical Nurse Managers and staff on the designated wards were important to maintain momentum and bed in the use of the AARM into practice. To date, 12 lobe devices are available for use on the pilot wards Emo Court Ward and Dunamaise Ward. Ongoing training opportunities are encouraged and offered by PMD Solutions. Staff at the hospital are delighted with the Respirasense device which has supported the early recognition and escalation of deteriorating patients and supported the implementation of the Irish National Early Warning System (INEWS V2) at the hospital. Preetha Thomas, CNM2; Melissa Dunne, ADON; Sandra McCarthy, Director of Nursing; Patricia Clancy, CNSp Respiratory; Geraldine Britton, CNM2; AnneMarie O’Shea RANP Adult Respiratory; and Dr John Connaughton, Clinical Director.
Dre Jason Carty, ED Consultant & Chief Clinical Information Centre, with Jiby Joy, CNM in the TUH Emergency Department.
INNOVATION AT TALLAGHT New electronic patient record a great example of innovative approach at TUH
I
nnovation week at Tallaght University Hospital got off to a strong start with the introduction of an Electronic Patient Record called Synergy. Synergy will replace some of the hospital’s legacy endof- life ICT systems and existing paper-based records and processes, enabling staff to access a single, reliable and integrated source of clinical information containing relevant patient details such as test results, medications, discharge summaries and other information associated with patients care. Synergy is yet another example of the hospital’s overall innovative approach to supporting the delivery of healthcare with digital technologies, known within TUH as Digital Enabled Care, a core pillar of the hospital’s Corporate Strategy. This is the most significant change the hospital has introduced in its 23-year history and has been years in planning. The hospital has a number of legacy ICT systems requiring replacement and identified a number of information gaps. The hospital decided against a major ‘rip and replace’ with a single solution and opted to implement an interfaced EPR, utilising some of the existing ICT systems in place, continuing to implement speciality specific best of breed systems e.g. ICE Order Communications Results Reporting, ICNet Infection Control, Opera Centricity (Theatre) and interfacing them through an single EPR platform, to create a single view of the patient record Synergy. This marks the completion of phase I of its EPR programme. The hospital has ambitious plans to further enhance Synergy with planning already started for phases II and III. Once TUH’s Synergy rollout is complete, there is potential for the Synergy to be accessible within the community, GPs and other services such as the onsite HSE Mental Health service enabling system-wide transformation and the delivery of truly integrated care. Chief Clinical Information Officer Dr Jason Carty commented on the positive changes Synergy will have for TUH. “Synergy offers TUH a major opportunity to transform the way we provide and deliver care to our patients. An additional benefit is that it will streamline workflows and processes which support care delivery and facilitate service user communication and information sharing between staff anytime anywhere and in time on any device,” he said. Fran Thompson, HSE Chief Information Officer, said, “This investment in TUH will have positive implications for health outcomes, patient experience and health system sustainability for all the patients of the hospital and surrounding area.”
HEALTH MATTERS SPRING 2022 | 59
058_HSE Health Matters_Digital DPS.indd 59
16/03/2022 13:18
