SystmOne Rehab has been branded a 'positive influence' at the Substance Misuse Service in Bradford. Clinical Pharmacist, Ralph Greenwall, led the team who implemented SystmOne. 18 months ago, the service was in need of re-organisation and this was the ideal opportunity to update the ageing computer system. Working to an extremely tight timescale, the team started the project by opening up closed wards at St Luke's Hospital. From here they set up a new drug service and transferred records for 800 clients onto the new system, getting the service up and running within a week!
In partnership with workers at the service, the team developed bespoke templates on SystmOne to provide a robust governance structure for client consultations. This helped to ensure that relevant information was recorded in such a way to enable straightforward auditing and data extraction. A huge piece of work was carried out around information governance and protocols for information sharing. Confidentiality was paramount and a robust procedure for the transfer of records was undertaken.
Ralph Greenwall said: 'It's rewarding to see the positive influence this IT solution has brought to the service. Community pharmacists and end users have found it helpful and it has changed practice for the better, reducing the number of problems and queries. We are pleased that other Primary Care Trusts across the country are now showing interest in the work we have done.'
The system has already enabled problems to be identified and sorted out quickly. Community pharmacists have found that it makes their job easier, reducing the number of issues arising and speeds up responses to queries about prescriptions. Staff have found that it helps them to keep a firmer check on details, avoiding duplication. Patient information such as letters from GPs about a client's care can all be stored in one place. The team all pulled together to make the implementation a success with pharmacists, drug service workers and IT teams working together in partnership. Staff found the intensive training they received on how to use the new system a great support. Feedback so far has been positive - as with any new system there have been minor teething problems but these have been sorted out quickly.
Operational Leader at Bradford Substance Misuse Service, Carol Dyas, who is involved with the project said: 'The system has been well received by the team. Although it is still very new to us we are beginning to see some of the benefits. It's still early days but we look forward to the system being further developed, streamlining the whole process, and tailoring things to our own needs.'
SystmOne is continuing to be rolled out across Yorkshire and Humber.
Article reproduced by kind permission of 'NPfIT News' NHS Yorkshire and the Humber.
