NHS South Worcestershire CCG is leading a trial on using new palliative care technology.
The technology will ensure that information can be shared more effectively between primary care providers, out of hours and NHS 111 providers on behalf of the three CCGs in Worcestershire.
Staff can input special notes or patient preferences for end-of-life care into the new electronic shared plan service created by Black Pear. This is pre-populated with information from patient records already held in EMIS Web, used by GP practices to hold clinical information of patients. The new integration technology will then make these details available in the patient management system used by the out of hours service and NHS 111 call handlers. The aim is to
Debbie Westwood, senior programme lead for NHS South Worcestershire CCG, said that although there had already been a 'robust end-of-life care pathway' the sharing of information between organisations was usually done via fax or email which was 'ineffecient'.
'We were really keen to be involved with the trial of this newly integrated technology, as it will provide a more modern, streamlined way of working - making our staff's lives easier. Most importantly patients will also have a better experience and can be assured their wishes are adhered to, regardless of which provider is taking care of them or if they lose capacity to share their views,' she added.
Ms Westwood said that clinicians and admin staff were already feeling the benefit and had been able to spend more time with patients.
The 12-month pilot began last month and involves 67 GP practices, three hospices, the regional ambulance service and palliative care staff.
Advanced and Black Pear Software, a provider of interoperable clinical applications are partnering with Worcester Well Connected (a health and social care programme being delivered by all the local NHS organisations) to deliver the EPaCCs (Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems) project.