Heartbeat: Hints and tips see City ED through Unity go-live
November 26, 2019
Support with Unity came in many different forms during the go-live fortnight. There were digital champions, super users, floorwalkers, the IT helpdesk and a wealth of printed materials available in all areas. Some colleagues even took the initiative to produce their own.
In the emergency department at City Hospital, senior sister Amy Roberts took the lead with her team. “At our study day we thought flash cards would be a good idea so that we had a quick reference guide in our pocket for the tasks we would be performing most,” she said.
“One of my colleagues recommended a board with our pocket guide on, and gaps – made from post-it notes – where we could write hints and tips to help each other out.”
It was a collaborative process, with everyone encouraged to add to the board and share their knowledge with the rest of the team. Over time they were able to develop a central location filled with loads of useful tips which made a hectic go-live experience a little easier.
“It was stressful to start with as we had a really busy department with multiple people walking in just before go-live. At 5am we went live and ten minutes later our first patients were booked on. The team we had on that night and all weekend were great.
They worked so hard and supported each other really well,” said Amy.
“It was challenging at one point when we had a nine-hour wait in ED, but the staff resus trolley was loaded with snacks to help us get through and the extra staff members were really helpful. There were a few worries and difficult moments but everyone pulled through.”
Amy was quick to thank others for their support in the run-up to go-live and beyond. “IT helped us the week before by installing scanners, moving computer screens and answering our long list of demands! Our matron Annabel Bottrill and consultant Cliona Magee made sure we had snacks to help with go-live and have been a constant support throughout.
“There have been a lot of difficulties but Dom Le Gros has been great – always on the end of an email or phone call to guide us through. Also our floorwalkers have been brilliant.”
Time is of the essence in a busy area like ED and one of the major advantages of Unity is its ability to speed up the documentation process, releasing more time to care. As Amy explains, patient records are now clearer and more accessible.
“We can actually read the doctors’ handwriting now! From a nurse in charge point of view I can see everyone’s observations at a glance and I don’t need to chase beds. I can add to the nursing documentation and see outstanding tasks, allowing us to support each other,” she said.