Improved internet connectivity is now available for ambulance crews outside our emergency department (ED) to benefit patient care following a partnership project with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).
EEAST awarded a contract to trial providing significantly enhanced internet connectivity outside four hospital EDs, where access to the internet has traditionally been poor, intermittent or non-existent for ambulance crews.
The solution has immediate benefits for patients, hospitals and the ambulance service as patients can be transferred much faster with the correct patient data and information made immediately available, reducing hospital handover times and supporting ambulance crews to get back on the road to care for other patients.
For ambulance crews waiting at emergency departments, strong, reliable internet connectivity allows staff to connect to digital systems such as NHS Spine-connected services one hundred per cent of the time, giving them access to patient history and enabling them to identify the most appropriate care pathways, make the right decisions for the patient and provide the opportunity for the best possible clinical outcomes. Some of the key benefits include:
- Reduced risk to patients due to clerical errors:Real time transfer of data (and elimination of data package delays) to acute hospitals enables real time information sharing and faster escalation of deteriorating patients, whilst also reducing the risk of medication errors.
- Reduction in handover delays:Efficient, faster transfer of data between cohorting crews reduces delays for the release of ambulances back into service.
- Better patient experience:Improved use of digital platforms to maintain wellbeing of patients in ambulances awaiting transfer into hospital (particularly paediatrics).
- Better patient outcomes:Ambulance crews have access to key patient data systems via shared services while queuing at EDs.
The Hybrid Connex solution is from emergency services connectivity specialists Excelerate Technology and was one of a number tested as part of NHS England’s Future Connectivity Wireless Innovation Trials, of which EEAST was a triallist. Alongside PAHT, Hybrid Connex has now been installed at hospitals in Peterborough, Luton and Colchester using NHS England funding for the trials.
The Hybrid Connex technology bonds clever software, cutting-edge hardware and cellular and satellite services into one package that effectively creates unbreakable, permanent connectivity, combining seamless 4G, 5G and satellite connections that ensure a fast, resilient connectivity solution that is never offline.
Phil Holland, chief information officer at PAHT, said: “This partnership project is a fantastic development for patient care and to support our partners in EEAST.
“We are committed to delivering enhancements in digital healthcare and we are proud to have been involved in this improvement to internet connectivity for ambulance crews outside our emergency department (ED).”
Philip Elvidge, electronic patient care records lead (paramedic) at East of England Ambulance Service said: “When we lose connection, clinical apps stop being able to pull information from our CAD system, cease being able to pull information from our PDS trace to bring the patient’s NHS number into record and prevent us being able to upload information to our key partners. However, with the new Hybrid Connex trial at the four local hospitals we have been able to access the Summary Care Records and National Record Locator consistently, which gives staff access to patients’ End of Life and Mental Health Plans, giving access to key information any time of the day to help us make the right clinical decisions.”
Bethan Evans, chief operating officer at Excelerate, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this trial which is being closely monitored by NHS England’s Digital Transformation Directorate. The Hybrid Connex solution takes around a day to install and has virtually no impact on the physical infrastructure of the hospital or the hospital’s own IT systems, opening the door to the simple potential rollout of the same solution in many other NHS healthcare venues, which are similarly challenged by poor, or no, internet connection.”
To get involved, or to find out more, visit the Hybrid Connex online engagement portal https://www.hybridconnex.co.uk or email [email protected]