Authors: (including presenting author): :
Lai YM(1), Lui CT(1), Lam W(1), Hung KL(1), Tsang LS(1), Tsang MY(1), Lee KY(1), Chan YWW(1), Mok CT(2), Leung KCC(2), Lo KCE(2)
Affiliation: :
(1)Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, (2)Information and Technology Section, New Territories West Cluster
Keyword 1: :
Clinical Safety
Keyword 2: :
Smart Hospital
Keyword 3: :
Accident and Emergency Department
Keyword 4: :
Observation Room
Introduction: :
Numerous patients were waiting in Accident and Emergency Departments (AED) every day. The current system could not ensure monitoring all patients in need, together with the plan of AEDs going paperless (cardless AED); patients were at risks of being unattended over shifts. To address these challenges, New Territories West Cluster (NTWC) introduced Special & Observation Cases in AED (SOCA) Dashboard, aiming at enhancing patient monitoring and care.
Objectives: :
To develop and implement a digital system for (1)monitoring special cases, observation cases, (2)managing cardless AED cases and their follow-ups, and (3)refining workflow, roles and responsibilities for fulfilling the standard of patient monitoring by the innovation.
Methodology: :
The system was developed by NTWC IT Section. To ensure flexibility, the system was accessible via HA computers and mobile devices. The system automatically generated case lists based on predefined criteria, including patient location, specific tasks and "observation ward" module assignments, enabling nurses to overview all the targeted patients with a single source. 4-columned interface illustrated patient demographics, observation plan and vitals, follow-up tasks, and last round of manual review along with the time elapsed. Nurses in observation area were required to review the cases in the area and other special cases on list, like mental instability or pending admissions, every 4 hours to ensure their condition and journey were in good progress.
Result & Outcome: :
The implementation in Tuen Mun Hospital has shown promising results since its launch on 8 September. By 24 December, the system had processed 20,660 cases. On average, 35 episodes were reviewed per shift, with over 120 episodes in the peak periods. A staff survey revealed positive feedback. 85.1% of users found the system easy to use, 92.6% agreed that it enhanced patient safety, and 96.3% acknowledged that it improved the efficiency of the patient journey. 92.6% of users believed the system could be a stepping-stone of cardless AED implementation, 94.4% agreed on its utility for follow-ups, and 88.9% saw its potential in future clinical environments. The compliance rate has significantly improved, rising from 60% in September to 94% in December.
