Authors (including presenting author) :
Shiu YH, Wan HYS, Wong LYM, Leung KNS
Affiliation :
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Patient journey
Keyword 3: :
Digitally enabled strategy
Introduction :
Traditional paper-based patient charts create fragmentation at every stage of the patient journey, from pre-admission to post-discharge follow-up. Bulky records, duplicated forms, printed education materials, and manually filed investigation reports contribute to operational and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) burdens, while information from outside hospitals often remains scattered across hardcopy referrals and leaflets. This limits timely access to clinical data and undermines continuity of care. Proactively streamlining patient documentation across the entire care pathway, combining paperless records with digital education tools is essential to support safe, efficient, and connected practice.
Objectives :
1. Proactively streamline patient documentation along the whole care journey to progressively achieve a paperless patient chart. 2. Utilize smart digital tools to capture and organize patient information originating from different hospitals and external providers into a unified electronic record. 3. Digitize key patient journey touchpoints by deploying patient education videos, electronic information booklets, and quick response (QR) codes that provide on- demand access to up-to-date resources. 4. Enable secure, location-independent access to comprehensive clinical and educational information for staff and patients, enhancing prompt decision-making.
Methodology :
Since 4Q 2024, all paper and printed materials are generated, including nursing charts, laboratory and imaging reports, referral letters, and patient education leaflets. Smart tools such as structured electronic forms, electronic results retrieval, and digital capture of external documents replaced paper at clinical documentations. In parallel, patient education content was converted into short videos and electronic booklets and posters. All clinical materials were indexed within the electronic patient record and made available through secure tablet for clinicians.
Result & Outcome :
Nearly 70% of paper for patient documentation in chart was reduced. 100% of medical staff was satisfied with the streamlining patient journey in single patient record system, retrieved through location independent access. They all believed that this can save time in searching patient data in different charts and prompt decision making can be achieved. By extending digital transformation beyond the chart to encompass patient education and planning, this strategy advances toward a truly paperless, digitally enabled patient journey. Integrated smart tools that consolidate multi-source clinical data enhance data completeness and staff efficiency while reducing OSH risks and reliance on printed materials. Multi-location access to clinical content supports faster, more coordinated care in treatment plan.
