Heartbeat: Unity – how ready are you?
July 25, 2018
Later this year, a number of our clinical systems will change to Unity – our new electronic patient record that will unify clinical records enabling consistency of care.
It has been calculated that 5,500 of us and counting will use Unity on a daily basis. If you are identified as a user of Unity, it will not be possible for you to conduct your role without it. Colleagues are being urged to take it upon themselves to learn how to use Unity and attend the training available.
All teams have access to the Unity Readiness Checklist – a guide for you and your department to get yourselves ready for the new electronic patient record. This is an exciting time for us all, and we want to make sure we’re ready.
The checklist contains different sections, which contain a number of checks. The aim of the checklist is for you to work through each section, collect the checks, and show that you are ready for Unity.
Be sure to check out the Unity readiness video (above) featuring Paula Gardner, Chief Nurse, David Carruthers, Medical Director and Sharon Reynolds, Informatics Matron.
Sharon Reynolds, Informatics Matron leads the clinical informatics team which will play a huge role in supporting our teams in readiness for Unity.
She said: “We are now in the readiness stage of Unity and colleagues who took part in the first dress rehearsal will know that it’s a great opportunity to get us all set for go-live. It’s important that teams use the readiness checklist and to also seek support from the clinical informatics team, work stream leads and Unity implementers who will regularly visit departments to provide the support necessary to help teams get ready.
“I’ve been visiting ward teams and it is encouraging to see that many are seeing the value of Unity and are eager to start using it. Colleagues are looking forward to using real time information to make clinical decisions about the people in our care. Unity will certainly help to facilitate multidisciplinary working and improve patient experience and flow.”
Getting ready for Unity should be a team effort – the checklist is an excellent way of engaging colleagues, stimulating discussion about Unity and starting to address people’s questions and concerns. It may not be possible to complete each check straight away – many are tied to particular phases of the project so may not be available immediately.
The readiness checklist is available on Connect and teams also have a hard copy to keep. The checklist belongs to your department, store it somewhere safe.
You may ask different team members to focus on a particular area or set up a small group to work through the checklist. Accountability for progress with readiness preparation and associated reporting sits with the ward/department manager.
Support is also available from the Unity implementation team, a group of colleagues assigned to each clinical area with the purpose of supporting the readiness effort. Working closely with the work stream leads and the clinical informatics team, their role is to inform and update, as well as act as a conduit for colleagues to raise issues of concern.
Keep an eye out for activities and events to help you get ready
Coming soon to you area – Unity corners. Digital champions with support from ward sisters and matrons will be developing Unity corners – a new space to learn all about Unity and have an opportunity to use the Unity Play System (a dummy copy of the electronic patient record that you can safely practice on).
Look out for Unity pop up demonstrations to learn more.
Visit the Unity favourite fairs in September for a chance to log on and set up your favourite areas on the system.
Further information about Unity or if you’d like to find out more about training visit Connect or email swbh.trustindigital@nhs.net. Information is also available from your group Unity implementer, clinical sponsor or digital champions in your area. The communications bulletin has news and updates on a regular basis.