Wireless links enable bedside X-ray checks
NHS trust to use system for mobile consultations
Salisbury NHS Trust is implementing a wireless network to enable bedside X-ray viewing and patient registration using tablet and notebook PCs.
The network will bring digitised X-rays to patients’ bedsides to allow doctors to discuss images direct with the patient.
‘We want to bring the system to the patient rather than the patient to the system,’ said head of IT at Salisbury NHS Trust Peter Russell. ‘It’s not just X-rays but results from laboratory tests can also be discussed face to face at the patient’s bedside.’
Salisbury’s wireless project is an example of an individual hospital building on the
results of the £6bn National Programme for NHS IT which includes the electronic X-ray national picture archiving and communication system (PACS).
The PACS initiative, which includes the digitising of X-rays, is widely regarded as one of the programme’s most successful elements. The hospital trust expects to gain efficiencies through deploying notebook and tablet PCs over the wireless network.
‘Efficiencies will result from not having to transfer paper forms into an electronic form – this registration can be done direct at the patient’s bedside,’ said Russell.
‘We can also avoid the kind of errors of transcribing patient details from registration forms as well as the staff time wasted doing that,’ he said.
Over 50 trolley-mounted 17in or 19in notebook PCs will be issued for general-purpose clinical activities on the wards.
‘Two notebook PCs will be used per ward, for ward rounds, X-ray viewing and form filling activities and perhaps eventually for drug administration in the future,’ said Russell.
Over 100 Toshiba tablet PCs costing about £1,000 each will be issued to consultants and senior staff as more of a personal device, says Russell.
‘These will be used akin to the way you use a desktop
but with a mobile ability for
consultants and anaesthetist to allow one-to-ones with patients,’ he said.’
The trust has had a wireless network running in its Accident and Emergency (A &E) department for about three years.
‘The new network will be an extension of the technology we have in A&E and will also run across the Cisco wireless network using Leap technologies,’ said Russell.
What do you think? Email [email protected]
Further reading: