On track to be Australia’s first large scale hospital to go digital

Key dates to note

Devices Expo 21 to 25 September

Staff training Commences 21 September

Innovate PAISSUE 1 | 21 September 2015

Long term gainBecoming a Digital Hospital requires enormous professional investment from management and staff to succeed.

The big question that needs to be asked is: “Is it worth it?”

PAH staff Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr Cole, has been representing the view of surgeons at PAH to the Digital Hospital Project, and has often asked himself this question.

“Technology has given us the tools we currently use to provide world class care to our patients. It is our responsibility to ensure that any new technology we introduce continues to benefit our patients and isn’t an end in itself.”

In concert with his surgical colleagues, Dr Cole has been pushing for important inclusions and designs in the Digital Hospital program that allow the current high quality of surgical care to be maintained, and to also allow for further improvements in the future.

“Step one is making sure the systems are clinically safe. While the new digital systems won’t have everything perfect when they Go Live, the attention we have now on the Digital Hospital gives us the chance to make improvements that make information more reliable, more available and improve the ability of surgeons to care for our patients.”

So, is it worth pursuing even though we know it will present a challenge?

“Absolutely. We have opportunities with the Digital Hospital to take what we currently do and do it better. Even after Go Live we will be able to continue improving the system. Hopefully we can integrate the current technology and subspecialty knowledge we have and the Digital Hospital Program to find more efficient and beneficial ways to improve surgical care at PAH,” he said.

“Anything worth having takes hard work. If the hard work of the Go Live is then followed with ongoing improvements, we will eventually wonder how we ever worked without the Digital Hospital.”

Go Live Week commencing 30 November

Over the coming years, all Queensland hospitals will

move towards this level of digitisation, making what

happens at PAH an important role model for the future.

The Hon Cameron Dick Minister for Health and Ambulance Services

Digital health in a connected hospitalDigital Hospital is our largest ever investment in improving healthcare quality for patients. It is a program of transformative changes that will be delivered in phases over a number of years to provide technology, tools and real time information to empower and encourage the best people in healthcare into new opportunities for innovation.

In its first iteration, formally starting in November, our Digital Hospital Program will see the introduction of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and a range of new integrated digital devices and updated systems.

While historic patient information will remain in closed paper charts, all new information on our patients and their treatment will be electronically available on health professional screens across the hospital and at the bedside.

This will allow clinicians to implement more efficient, effective treatment. It will free up more time for staff to spend with patients. It will reduce inefficiencies and wastage, and will support world class clinical care and research.

What is coming in November 2015?

Radiology RadNet upgrade

Software that manages radiology procedures

Emergency FirstNet Replaces EDIS

Surgery SurgiNet Replaces ORMIS

All areas Mpage Patient summary pages

All areas Structured Clinical Notes

Advanced clinical notes including diabetes and cardiac

All areas Specialty Devices

Integrated digital devices

Devices Expo

The first steps were taken in 2014 to lay foundations towards becoming a digital hospital with projects like:

EMR to the bedsideRenal provided the first transition point from hand written clinical documents to electronic patient PowerChart and replaced many paper documents used in the haemodialysis units.

Alerts for safetyThe Allergies and Alerts component of EMR allows staff to review allergies and alerts, as opposed to re‑documenting, each time a patient presents.

ESM outpatient upgradeLast month saw the successful implementation of the upgraded Enterprise Scheduling Management (ESM) system in the outpatient departments.

Over 120,000 Wait Lists and future appointments were manually migrated from the legacy OSIM to ESM, which links outpatient information directly onto PowerChart. A key step towards a fully integrated Digital Hospital.

ScanningVisibility of scanned patient information statewide across ieMR sites with implementation of PowerChart.

Go RAPIDThe Short Stay Unit is currently trialling RAPID Access to tap on to computers for instant password generated access.

Emergency Department Acting Assistant Director of Nursing, Karen Taurima, said: “having quick access to charts, Auslab and Radiology results is priceless. We’re saving an average of 30 minutes each shift not having to login.”

RAPID Access will be rolled out across the hospital in time for Digital Hospital Go Live.

New devices and technologiesSpecialised bedside and vital signs monitors, integrated with the EMR, will enable clinical data to be securely uploaded directly to the patient’s electronic medical record.

To date the devices team have deployed:

When your patient asks… ‘What’s this Digital Hospital thing all about?’We are introducing a new electronic medical record system that will give us access to your health information in real time at the bedside.

That means we can eventually phase out dated paper charts in favour of a fast, secure, centralised computer system.

We are getting a range of new cutting edge medical devices that link directly to your health record, available via any computer in the hospital.

That gives us more time to care for you.

PAH Staff Cafeteria | Monday 21 to Friday 25 September | 9 am to 2.30 pm

Interactive display Talk to the experts and see the new devices in action!

» Vital signs monitor » ECG » Bedside monitor » Patient ID band printer » Pathology label printer » Single patient label printer

Devices Expo

We are on track for Go Live by the end of November, so take this opportunity to familiarise yourself with some of our new equipment.

The Digital Hospital Program has the potential to transform

clinical safety, efficiency, productivity and research at the PAH. It is up to all

of us, collectively, to achieve that potential for our community. It won’t

be easy and it won’t be perfect for everyone, but if any hospital in

Australia can do this, it is the PAH.Dr Richard Ashby

Metro South Health Chief Executive 49

Work station on wheels (WOWs) with battery packs and barcode scanners

100 Vital sign monitor carts

20 ECG carts

Digital Hospital training kicks offTraining started on 21 September 2015, here’s what you need to know:

» Training is required for anyone who currently uses or accesses a paper medical record.

» Training will ensure you have the fundamental system skills to perform your role and look after patients safely at Go Live.

» Ongoing training, post Go Live, will continue to progress your skills in the system’s functionality.

Pre and Post Go Live Staff Support To complement ongoing training, a range of staff support initiatives will be available.

Ongoing Training » Facilitated web based training » Refreshers » Instructor led

LearningLive Real‑time ‘help’ function easily available in the patient’s chart to guide you whenever needed.

Practice & Device Labs Dedicated rooms to practice likely scenarios and familiarise yourself with medical devices.

Dress Rehearsal A pre Go Live activity to walk through workflows and test changes likely to be experienced.

Change Champions & Facilitators Experienced Change Champions and facilitators on hand to help you at every stage.

LightsOnNetwork Easy to view metrics to understand the performance and effectiveness of clinicians, end users and the EMR.

Your Preference Settings Personal settings workshops and at the elbow clinical support to set up your favourites and auto‑text.

Hotline Support & Command Centre A dedicated phone support line will be resourced 24/7 and open pre Go Live.

Quick Reference Guides Useful information on QHEPS to help you learn.

Floor Walkers & Digital Support Runners At the elbow clinical support for one month post Go Live from the change champions, facilitators, clinical leads, vendors and tech experts.

Dedicated Change Facilitators and Change Champions are here to support you. Who is the Change Facilitator and Change Champion for your area? Ask your line manager.

Have you got questions about Digital Hospital? Ask your change facilitator or email PAHdigitalhospital@health.qld.gov.au

Speak with your line manager about booking your training.