SystmOne Instant Messaging Proving a Hit With Users!

In January, TPP released new functionality to SystmOne allowing users to send instant messages to any other member of staff logged on to SystmOne at their organisation. This means that staff members can be alerted to something without their consultation being interrupted.

Sending an instant message is easy - using the mouse or the computer keyboard, users simply access the 'Messaging' dialog, select the recipients, write the message and click 'Ok'. The message is displayed immediately on the recipients' screens with options for the recipient to reply to, postpone or ignore the message.

Staff at Green House Surgery in Redcar and Cleveland PCT have been using SystmOne  Instant Messaging since it was released. Management Partner, Julia Speight, says, "The Instant Messaging on SystmOne is very user-friendly. We included instructions on how to use it in our practice newsletter and all the staff think it's really good."

Instant Messaging is intended to be used for quick, non-clinical messages that don't require an audit trail. "I used it the other day because we couldn't find the keys for the cupboards in reception," says Julia. "Knowing that people only check their emails from time to time during the day, I pinged an instant message out and within seconds, a member of staff owned up to having accidentally put the keys in her pocket! The receptionists use Instant Messaging quite a lot to tell GPs things like 'Your coffee's in the back office, please collect'. Before this option was available, we'd type these messages onto the doctor's rota but that was a bit messy - Instant Messaging is much easier."

Staff at Larksfield Surgery, Bedfordshire PCT, were grateful for the introduction of Instant Messaging with SystmOne because it was something they'd used with their previous system. Practice Manager, Philippa Smith, explains: "When we moved to SystmOne in September 2008, we started to use Tasks and Notifications but were missing the 'in your face' type message that we'd had with our legacy system. Notifications aren't responded to with the same urgency and are easy to ignore, so we were happy when Instant Messaging became available. Then, when we realised that you could send a single message to several people at once, that improved our happiness no end!"

Philippa continues, "Our admin staff, myself and the dispensary team use Instant Messaging as a means to contact the clinicians, generally for short messages that need an immediate response such as, 'I need to speak to you before your next patient', or 'Please ring me when you're free'. We're all pleased with it and it's very easy to use." 

SystmOne Instant Messaging further increases the range of communication methods available for SystmOne users to contact one another. It is available to any organisation using SystmOne - there's no setup to do, no activation process to follow and no charge for using it. Just a few clicks or keystrokes and your instant message is sent!