Liverpool’s walk-in centres are to be electronically linked together to one central database to be viewed and accessed by all four centres.
The new approach will be made possible by the planned implementation of the Clinical Solutions Walk-In Centre electronic patient record and nurse led consultation system across all of the sites.
The Walk-In Centre system, provides a series of modules to document clinical care during the in-person assessment process. In the “reception area” demographic capture and simple prioritisation of an individual’s presenting symptoms is conducted. Patients are then placed into the most appropriate management queue for clinical assessment within the particular face-to-face setting.
With the system, Liverpool PCT will be able to transfer medical records onto the central database and staff at any walk-in centre in the area will be able to view the data, as well as offering them clinical decision support.
The system is dual password protected and user access will be restricted to only the most relevant staff, to safeguard patient confidentiality. It will use the same security system that is currently used by NHS Direct staff.
Walk-In Centre was initially installed at two of the city’s four walk in centres three years ago and following an upgrade to the system, is being implemented in the two remaining sites, which includes the UK’s first paediatric care walk-in centre.
Liverpool PCT’s head of information, management and technology, Caroline Rand, said: “We recognised the benefits of switching to an electronic system at the first two sites to both staff and patients. The expansion of the technology across all four walk-in centres improves the availability and speed of access of information enabling staff rotation.
“The decision support element provides a valuable resource for triage nursing staff and along with the electronic records will help us to reduce queuing time by directing patients to where they will be seen quickly.”
Consultation and documentation of the person’s presenting symptoms/complaint is enabled by the use of decision support algorithms and/or unique consultation scripts developed specifically for the in-person clinical environment. The consultation scripts provide a set of user definable and logically structured variables used to capture
the essential database of information related to the presenting complaint.
The system enables prompt and efficient triage and assessment of patients based on presenting complaints and conditions, or referral on to other primary care providers, and maintains consistent high quality information and advice.
Its appearance is similar to Microsoft Outlook and also offers clinicians the ability to view body charts online and use instant messaging with other users for recommendations.
It also has a reporting aspect, providing the PCT with data needed for auditing.
Clinical Solution’s global sales and marketing director, Richard Craven, told EHI Primary Care: “Liverpool’s walk-in centres provide a lifeline for the people of the city as an alternative to A&E and GP surgeries. The expansion of the Clinical Solutions system across all four sites will reduce the burden placed on healthcare professionals in the region and in turn help provide better care for patients.
“The joined up system will offer the trust an easier way of controlling their walk-in centres with staff able to access patient records in whichever walk in centre they are working in, as staff do have to travel between locations a lot. With this system, accessing records becomes seamless and you get the benefits of triage software and patients being treated appropriately.”
All four sites are expected to be fully linked together and live by 13 March.
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