The new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - Liverpool, part of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, has launched specialist digital patient flow technology to help improve the patient experience and drive efficiency across its cancer clinics.
Paul Karalius
The 11-storey hospital is part of a £162 million investment in cancer services across Cheshire and Merseyside. The hospital has deployed a central outpatient flow management platform to allow staff and clinicians to track the location and status of patients for the duration of their appointment, as well as room and resource management to control clinic allocation and room occupancy across its three sites.
The Trust has also introduced self-service kiosks to allow patients to register their arrival without attending reception and digital patient calling screens to transfer patients from waiting areas to clinic rooms when appropriate.
The project has been delivered alongside digital patient flow management experts, Intouch with Health.
Jeni Bradshaw, digital programme manager at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, said: “A quick check-in process with no queues and clear instructions on where to wait, followed by discreet, clear instructions when the clinician is ready to see the patient make a huge difference to their overall experience. Many patients have already commented on how easy and straight forward the process is.
“The technology is helping us operate much more efficient clinics. Staff are notified of a patient’s arrival on the live dashboard and can see which clinic they are attending and which waiting room they have been directed to.
“Staff know where each patient is and are able to call them forward using the digital screens in that location. It gives them visibility as to which patients have arrived, which haven’t, where they’re located, which have been called forward for their appointment, and when they have been seen by a clinician.
“This is all supplemented by the digital management of clinic allocation and room utilisation across our three sites using the central dashboard. Clinical staff can review room availability and arrange job plans accordingly with access to a clear view of clinics across the whole trust, which has previously been difficult to visualise.”
