Mental health services across Derbyshire have entered a new era after trialling a hi-tech way to capture important patient information.
The traditional pen and paper approach for recording data is being phased out as clinicians caring for patients out in the community turn to the latest technology to collect and transmit the information.
More than 700 staff at Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust is now using Destiny’s digital pen solution, which enables them to fill in forms on the move without the need to return to the office and enter them onto a computer later in the day.
The information they collect about patients is instantly sent back to the Trust’s computer network using a secure and encrypted GPRS mobile phone link – saving on paperwork.
“Getting patient information into our computer system quickly and accurately is vital, and this new approach has helped to simplify this process significantly,” said Nick Hodson, Head of Service Improvement.
“This technology gives them more time to schedule additional visits, meaning they can see more patients throughout the working day, which in turn helps to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
“It allows clinicians to focus on patient care rather than onerous administrative tasks, and reduces the risk of entry errors being made.”
“It is also more secure than previous arrangements as staff out in the field is transporting even less identifiable information.
The digital pen writes just like a normal ballpoint pen, but has a tiny infrared camera at its tip which reads and records the movements of the pen when used on the special dotted paper, when notes are completed clinicians tick the ‘send’ box on the dotted paper and the notes are then transmitted back to the office via a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, or wait until they return to their desk to dock the pen and instantly transfer the information.
“We are delighted at the level of success with our solution within the Trust, 700 pens is a huge roll-out and really does show just how cost-effective and efficient this solution is. Other Trusts are looking at the digital pen and it is not surprising when you see it being used so effectively by Derbyshire Mental Health Services”, said Edward Belgeonne, founder and CEO Destiny PLC.
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