Norfolk and Norwich select Perfect Ward to transform maternity pathway

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has turned to mobile solutions to transform its maternity care pathway.

Using the Perfect Ward mobile app, the trust aims to define evidence-based metrics to boost performance across the pathway.

The trust has moved from a paper-based auditing system to measuring quality improvements digitally. The app provides a clear view of data, without the need for written notes, which can be shared electronically.

Results show the Perfect Ward solution has helped halve the time needed to perform audits, while empowering staff to deliver better maternity care across the pathway.

Yvonne Christley, deputy chief nurse at the trust, said: “For us the biggest benefit of using Perfect Ward is its ability to capture everything visually and the tagging functionality is great.

“At a glance, we can see metrics for every part of the maternity care pathway, by division and across the whole organisation.  It gives us rich and vivid data that is simple and easy to interpret.

“Audits can be now be done in half the time, hugely important when our target for audits is 20 minutes during this critical first phase.  We could never have embarked on such an ambitious programme without an effective digital system like Perfect Ward.”

The solution eliminates administrative burdens associated with auditing to give staff extra time to look after patients.

The trust plans to test the new metrics and gain valuable patient feedback by involving the mothers in the next stage of the programme.

The maternity department’s first Continuity of Care Team was launched in December 2020, with the goal of having one full audit across the entire patient journey.

Until now, nurses often carried out their own individual audits for mothers in their care, but the success of the new project encouraged the team to use audits as a valuable tool for sharing learning and outstanding practice, along with areas that may require improvement.

Alan Birch, chief commercial officer at Perfect Ward, added: “Our solution is perfectly designed to support bespoke and transformational quality programmes across NHS hospitals and all health and social care environments in these challenging times.

“Using mobile devices, managers have complete control of their quality metrics on the move, can view the results of live audits as they are completed and make meaningful improvements accordingly.

“For frontline staff, our technology is a powerful motivational tool making their roles easier, more engaging and helping to unleash their full potential.”

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