Blackpool Teaching Hospitals launches digital patient flow technology

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has launched new digital patient flow management technology to improve patient flow and experience for outpatients.

The trust has launched Flow Manager, from Intouch with Health; a digital patient dashboard used by hospital staff to monitor the location and progress of each outpatient for the duration of their appointment.

Kieran Gallagher, the trust’s Head of ICT Developments, said: “Flow Manager shows our outpatient team the status of each visiting patient, including if they have arrived and checked-in or if they are late, if they’re with a clinician, and when their appointment has started.

“This means they can plan, manage and update the entire patient journey.”

“This means they can plan, manage and update the entire patient journey using Flow Manager, which is integrated with our PAS and will help improve care coordination across outpatients, deliver significant operational efficiencies, and improve the experience for our patients.”

The trust has also launched new patient-facing technology, including digital self-check-in kiosks, and digital patient calling screens located throughout outpatients.

Patients will also be kept updated on clinic delays via Intouch with Health’s Wait Time Manager, which notifies them via check-in kiosks or their mobile device on arrival.

Kevin Fletcher, director of patient flow at VitalHub UK, parent organisation of Intouch with Health, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the team at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals with their digital outpatient flow project.

“We’ll also be helping them introduce our digital Room & Resource Manager, and eOutcomes digital patient outcome recording form in the near future to ensure the team achieves a completely joined-up digital patient journey.”