Unity Communications Bulletin Go-live Fortnight: Issue 12

September 30, 2019

Halfway through our Unity Go-Live fortnight: What have we learned?

We have completed a full week of Unity implementation since we began our Go Live fortnight. Well done to everyone who is continuing to get to grips with the new system. Some of you may be back in work for the first time if you were away last week so do look back at the top tips from our previous daily Unity updates by clicking here.

Some key learnings from Week one:

• There is lots of support and help out there: Just ask

During our Go Live Fortnight we have scheduled fewer patients in clinics / having surgery so that in some of our services we can have more time to learn how we do things in Unity. Floor walkers, super users and digital champions are all on hand. The Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) cover most of the tasks you will need to do in Unity. Our guides in this bulletin also include top tips for certain elements of care. You have one more week to become familiar with the new system so please make the most of the help that is on offer. Continue to contact 4050 to report issues that you haven’t been able to resolve with the help of the Unity team on the ground.

• Unity provides us with great data about our use of the system

Since the start of our Go Live Fortnight we have been tracking a few key functions in Unity to see whether we are providing safe care to our patients. Through Unity we can see the wards / departments that are doing really well and the ones who may need some support to improve.

Some of our latest data is below:

VTE assessments – 86% completed over the weekend

Endorsed results – 49% of results were endorsed over the weekend. Since Wednesday over 6000 results remain unendorsed.

• Unity helps us to provide safer care

The alerts that are built into the system remind us of checks that we need to do for our patients. The alerts are there for a reason so please take note of them. You must complete your VTE assessment within six hours in line with our safety plan. Not completing the VTE assessment will block you from continuing with the patient’s care plan. Medication administration is safe when the medicine bar code is scanned and the patient bar code is scanned. Bypassing this can lead to unsafe clinical care. Around 425 medicines are given that have not been scanned each day. Endorsing results is vital in ensuring that we haven’t missed a result that may have an impact on that patient’s care.

• Some tasks need to be done in a certain sequence

Discharging patients is a sequential activity in Unity. The discharge summary information and medications for discharge needs to be completed in Unity before the CapMan discharge activities are carried out. Follow the information in yesterday’s bulletin if you are unsure.

• Unity has shown how good we are at team work

From day 1 in our Go Live fortnight, the shout-outs and positive comments received demonstrate how everyone has pulled together and continued to support each other to make best use of Unity as we care for our patients. That team work will be essential as we continue beyond this fortnight and into optimisation. Through learning from each other and supporting each other we will make the best use of Unity, and free up our time to care.

The positives of Unity

Last weekend, we launched our electronic patient record, Unity.

We have received a variety of feedback throughout the go-live process including many positives from colleagues across the Trust.

Some of this feedback includes:

Rachel Cunniffe, development sister from Lyndon 5: “We really like the whole system, it’s comprehensive and improves our patient care.”

Do you have some positive feedback about Unity? Send it to swbh.comms.nhs.net.

Please ensure you continue to raise any problems with access, technicalities or use of Unity to ext. 4050 if you haven’t had the help you need from the “on the ground” support teams.

Ninth winner of shout-out competition

Today’s shout-out winner is Fatema Amujee, ward manager who was nominated by Maria Fisher, HCA.

Nominator Maria said: “Big shout out to our ward manager for putting in lots of effort during Unity go-live and the preparation prior to Unity. Staying beyond work hours and coming in at weekends to make up guides for Unity making it a easy and smooth transition for her team!”

Congratulations Fatema and well done Maria! You will both receive Love to Shop vouchers valued at £10 each.

Don’t forget to submit a shout-out via Connect when you notice anyone going the extra mile to help their colleagues with Unity.