Frimley improves theatre use

Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been able to make more use of its theatres since going live with a specialised system from Picis that integrates with its iSoft patient administration system.

Ophthalmology have seen an increase of 10% in its theatre utilisation, which has risen from 70% in 2009 to 80% in 2010.

Orthopaedics has seen an increase from 79% to 87% and ear, nose and throat has seen an increase of 9% from 71%-80%.

The trust signed a deal with Picis at the end of 2008 and went live with eight different modules in its surgical, anaesthesia and post-anaesthesia and critical care areas last January.

It has also seen smaller improvements in theatre use in areas including urology and gynaecology.

The trust says that before the system was implemented there was no consistency in the way theatre bookings were managed.

Now, the software allows medical staff to review and refine practices using real time data in order to reduce operating theatre delays and treat more patients in less time.

Suzanne Wills, acting deputy general manager at the trust said: “Picis has standardised the process of entry and booking. Now that we have one format and one process, we can schedule operations far more efficiently.

“We can identify the source of unnecessary delays at any stage and take any required corrective actions. We’re cutting down on wasted time, and that saves money.”

The system also integrates with the trust’s iSoft PatientCentre PAS, providing consultants with remote access to patient information.

Loua Shaikh, consultant anaesthesist and intensivist at the hospital, added: “We now have total perioperative automation.

"With remote access, I can review patient care with up-to-date information in front of me. I’m not reliant on anyone else’s interpretation. All this is done securely.”