The Surrey-based Frimley Park Hospital has set up a trust-wide remote data access, transfer and collaboration system in order to provide consultants with patient information from almost any location.

The system was rolled out across the trust in December 2009, following a pilot period in the adult intensive care unit. The trust implemented this solution which includes global data access functionality and global data transfer technology and has been integrated with its iPM patient administration system. The software also incorporates a virtual medical meeting centre, to allow clinicians to virtually assess situations and online sessions and simultaneously view patient files using remote access.

Dr Loua Shaikh, a consultant intensivist and anaesthestist at the trust, who identified the demand for the system, stated: "With a host of servers collecting patient data from x-rays, ventilators, infusion pumps and heart monitors, a whole network of information was becoming digitised." He added: "Effectively the situation and care of a patient can change at any time. A consultant may not be present in the hospital when they are required to aid decision making. With the solution a consultant can effectively be available 24/7 without the high costs of having them constantly onsite."

Dr Shaikh is now working to deploy a clinical information system at the hospital to digitalise historical patient data. "With the full roll-out of the service, radiology doctors can view scans and orthopaedic surgeons are able to give advice on spinal x-rays without having to be onsite. The whole medical network now has the potential to achieve rapid turn around times on delivering the highest quality patient care," he said.

The director of the private company that developed the system, Mr. Phil Bullivant, added that this innovation "...helps organisations, such as the Frimley Park NHS Foundation Trust, to create joined-up and flexible working solutions, and maximise their IT investment and deliver new ways of working. Reduced time pressures and increased efficiency in working practices will greatly benefit patient care."

 Further information:

• Original News Article - e-Health Insider
• Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust