BlackBerry transplant system trialled

Blackberry

Liver surgeons and transplant coordinators at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust have started using BlackBerrys to help to determine suitable donor recipients from transplant waiting lists.

The trust has begun a two month trial using encrypted BlackBerry devices to allow surgeons and coordinators to access relevant information to help them to quickly determine a patient’s suitability for a transplant.

Rachel Brazier, the trust’s IT project manager, said it has been working with Airpoint, a company that specialises in providing tailored mobile applications, to develop a web-based database to capture information and to develop and customise the BlackBerry application.

Brazier told E-Health Insider: “The front end is managed by the transplant coordinators and fed into the BlackBerry devices. Coordinators and consultants can see all the essential data that they need, including the patient’s name, age and blood group. Results can also be filtered into categories, such as the type of transplant the patient needs.”

At present six consultants and four transplant coordinators are using the devices and transplant application. The trust provided the staff with BlackBerrys before the pilot started, so they could access its email system and familiarise themselves with the device.

Peter Ashcroft, liver recipient transplant coordinator at UHB, said: “Before, the transplant coordinators and consultant surgeons needed to carry a paper copy of the liver transplant waiting list with them at all times, so they could respond immediately when an offer of a donor liver was made in order to select a suitable recipient from the waiting list.”

Brazier said there have been several benefits to the system, including increased confidentiality as the waiting list is now held on a secure website.

“We’re getting some really good feedback and because we are continuing to develop the application in parallel to the trial we are able to take on board people’s suggestions as to what they would like to see it do and how they would like it to look.”

The trial will finish at the end of August. If successful, it is likely to be extended to other specialist departments within the trust.

Link: Airpoint