Barnsley PCT Implements SystmOne Community in a Ward Setting

SystmOne has been rolled out in Barnsley PCT for the first time on a ward setting, on Wards 4, 5 and 6 at Mount Vernon Hospital. Yorkshire & Humber NHS Newslink went to meet staff on the ward to find out how the new system was working and how many changes it has made to their ways of working.

Andrew Hurd, Charge Nurse with Carol Bishop (left) and Katie Procter (right).

Carol Bishop, Ward Manager (Ward 6) and Katie Procter, Senior Physiotherapist, are both based at Mount Vernon Hospital and have overseen the implementation of the new system within their service areas and have worked in partnership with Information Services to ensure staff were trained and supported during the changeover.

"We were prepared to move on to the new system after our previous system (McKesson) was discontinued in June. In the interim we've worked with paper-based files and it's really made us appreciate the merits of electronic records which can be shared between departments easily." said Carol.

Katie added: "Our staff were previously only used to using paper records so it has been an extreme change of culture to move onto SystmOne but staff have been really up for the challenge and helped us to identify some of the early teething problems we've encountered.

"We really feel that it has helped us to integrate as a workforce. We've had a good review of our existing business processes and identified the kind of information we need to retain and share, reducing unnecessary duplication."

Staff have had to learn to use the new system, which mandates the use of smart cards as SystmOne is linked into the national Spine, to locate patients who may have moved from out-of-area locations. "It's only due to the cooperation and support we've received from staff that this has worked," Carol added.

With the new system came training, "Each member of staff needed six hours of training to learn how to use it. We have, to date, trained up 21 therapists and 63 nursing staff."

Carol continued: "The NPfIT team have also been absolutely brilliant to work with. They have helped bridge the void between clinical work and IT. When we have made requests, suggested change and recommended amendments, they have helped to configure the system to that specification and requested national change where necessary."

Thanks to the new system, the team at Mount Vernon have streamlined their work, "We've less photocopying and filing, there is far less waste," said Katie.

"For some staff, it is the first time they have had to use a computer for work which can be daunting but they have been encouraged by their colleagues and received full training and support."

Katie added, "Other benefits of the system are that we can scan in documents and photographs (with permission) and save them to the electronic record, making it easier to share information and results."

It is still early days for the wards but the first user is now on the system. More infrastructure is planned to enable wireless working on the wards. Other work areas will be moving on to the system shortly.

Carol said: "The more staff who get on to the system, the less paper documents we will have to deal with. The potential to use electronic referrals and share records has an immediate benefit to all NHS staff."

This article first appeared in the Yorkshire & Humber NHS Newslink.

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