Monthly archives: November 2019

Optimistic about Unity optimisation

Please print this bulletin out and display it in a prominent position in your ward/area and draw attention to it for all colleagues to read.

To help you get the best out of Unity we will continue to share top tips. Please take note of these helpful reminders as they may resolve an issue you have experienced.

Documenting samples when collecting bloods

Remember that when you are collecting bloods you must collect samples first, mark them as collected in Unity and then print out labels. If you do not do this then it is not possible to endorse the result when it is returned to the hospital from the laboratory. For more information, please see QRG RT06.

Replenishing Unity downtime boxes

Following the planned Unity downtime during the early hours of Sunday 27 October, it’s important to make sure that your Unity downtime boxes are properly restocked.

If you’ve used any documents out of your downtime box, ensure that you replace them with copies from your local store. If you need to do this, please also restock your local store so that it’s kept at a consistent level.

During the planned downtime you will have logged on to your 724 computers using the username and password for the 724 viewer, which is kept in an envelope marked ‘Unity downtime 724 username and password’. If you haven’t already, please put this back in your Unity downtime box as the username and password will remain active until new ones are issued.

If you encounter any problems with replenishing your Unity downtime box, call the IT helpdesk on ext. 4050.

Help with CapMan

The quick reference guides (QRGs) to Unity, including how best to use CapMan, can be found on Connect or through eCoach.

All users are encouraged to use eCoach to access QRGs and support. Your activity on eCoach helps give the administration team much-needed knowledge so you can be better supported within Unity.

If you make an error in CapMan when transferring a patient from ED or any other ward, don’t panic, you don’t need to register the patient in IPM.

If you have transferred a patient to an incorrect ward or bed, please follow QRG CM40. If your patient isn’t on the transfer list, please follow QRG CM41.

Meet super user Rakan Khalifah

Rakan Khalifah is a specialty doctor in emergency medicine and a Unity super user. He’s a keen advocate for electronic patient records and was pleased to support the introduction of Unity.

“When it comes to patient safety and effective clinical practice, comprehensive IT solutions always have the upper hand. This is proved through better prescribing, fewer clinical and drug-related errors, safe archiving and easy access to medical records,” said Rakan.

“More than this, Unity is a one-stop shop where we can document, prescribe, share information, review and endorse results in a single interface that pools all patient information – past and present.”

Having worked in emergency departments for more than a decade, Rakan had been through two previous go-live experiences. This was his third and he felt that it went well.

“Cutover itself was really interesting. We started at 5am on Saturday morning with 20 patients in the department registered on the old IT system already. We had to ensure that these patients were looked after as they would not be moved into Unity.

“When we had our first patient registered on Unity, I felt a huge sense of relief. Two years of hard work from everyone in the Trust were coming to fruition. As more colleagues came on shift they showed the same commitment and never gave up,” he said.

“We understand that the two-week cutover period is just the beginning but Unity has already started to show its great potential. As we become more familiar with it, I am confident that we will realise the system’s full capabilities.”

Remember – you can contact your super users for help and advice or call ext. 4050 if you have issues with your device or use of Unity.

Crisp packet recycling programme

We are rolling out the crisp packet recycling programme via TerraCycle. TerraCycle are an innovative recycling company that have become a global leader in recycling typically hard-to-recycle waste.

We need your help

We are asking colleagues to collect empty crisp packets at work instead of throwing them into the general waste bins. You can collect in any receptacle (ideally re-use an empty cardboard box) then send to the estates department at City or Sandwell Hospital labelled ‘crisp packets for recycling’.

Why are we recycling our empty crisp packets?

• Terracycle will collect the empty crisp packets free of charge and recycle them. The Trust receives points (the more crisp packets we send, the more points we receive) and these can be redeemed into financial donations to charity
• It reduces the amount of general waste we generate (and the associated costs)
• It’s the right thing to do environmentally

For more information please contact Francesca.silcocks@nhs.net.