Saint Catherine’s, a Scarborough-based hospice, has become the first to use the Yorkshire and Humber Shared Care Record (YHCR).
This digital patient record, which the hospice went live with in January, holds vital information from across care settings, including hospitals, GPs, social and community services.
Having access to patient information via the YCHR allows appropriate hospice staff to quickly check a patient’s history, allergies, medications and importantly for Saint Catherine’s, their end-of-life care wishes.
Sarah Holloway, team leader for community palliative care at Saint Catherine’s, said: “Having access to the Shared Care Record has been a game changer for us.
“Whether we are in the hospice or visiting patients in their home, using our laptops we can see at a glance the medical record from one place and any notes from other clinicians about the patient including their care wishes. This gives everyone confidence at a very difficult time.”
Established in 1985, Saint Catherine’s delivers palliative and end of life care to over 3,000 patients a year. Covering over 1,600 square miles across North and East Yorkshire, the hospice has around 160 staff and over 400 volunteers.
Sarah Callin, medical director at Saint Catherine’s, said: “We have already seen great benefits from using the Yorkshire and Humber Shared Care Record. It means we can access information quickly and in a variety of different settings, both in and out of the hospice.”
Digital health is at the forefront of healthcare in the Yorkshire and Humber region and has been for a number of years. Last year, the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network launched the latest edition of its digital health accelerator programme, Propel@YH.