Why tech is vital in cutting demands on medical teams

Recently we have seen A&E departments and GP surgeries being stretched to great lengths over the winter period with an average 4,500 extra beds a day required to cope with the rise in demand. Seasonal illnesses and staff shortages have been blamed for the crisis – so what can be done to alleviate the pressure on medical teams and ensure patients still receive high quality care? Here, Lee Copestake, technical director at healthcare scheduling specialist BookWise Solutions discusses how the answer could lie in technology.

Patient waiting times are never far from the headlines, but over the past few months they appear to have rocketed. From the disruption of last year’s junior doctor strikes, to the ongoing challenge of treating people with complex conditions, there is no denying the NHS is under serious strain.

For time-stretched medical teams, these problems are only compounded by the amount of administrative work that comes on top of caring for patients. At an average-sized practice, for example, one full-time GP may be responsible for as many as 2,000 people, with hundreds of appointments booked each week.

Anyone who has worked in general practice will know how much demand for services fluctuates during the year, with the winter months always seeing a dramatic spike. Some centres still engage with paper-based booking systems, which makes it extremely difficult for staff to arrange appointments and ensure each patient has enough time with a doctor or nurse. There is also a danger that if people cannot get into their surgery, their condition could deteriorate, bringing them to A&E.

With a growing population, some of whom require multi-agency care plans, it is clear that greater efficiency is needed to streamline services. Delays in patients receiving treatment is not only costly, it may well be detrimental to their health. We are all familiar with the scenario of elderly people having to stay in hospital longer than necessary, running the risk of infection because there is no care home place available for them.

It is therefore not surprising that more health facilities are using technology to help maximise their limited resources. Room scheduling software, for instance, ensures all spaces are being used and prevents double bookings. Crucially, it means appointments can be planned at the touch of a button, so nurses and care assistants can concentrate on looking after patients.  

The last thing time-pressed staff want to do is spend valuable parts of their working day trying to find out if a room is already booked. These systems provide instant answers to a computer or smartphone, without the need to call colleagues. This means last-minute appointments can be arranged wherever possible or to inform patients when a booking slot is no longer available.

The move towards digitising patient records has been a long process but as more health centres harness technology, the benefits are certainly being felt. With security and confidentiality of paramount importance, digital records can help to prevent data being lost or details poorly communicated, as is unfortunately sometimes the case with paper.

It is not just the NHS that can benefit from technology like this. In recent years, we have seen increasing numbers using booking systems within the education sector to book lecture rooms or seminars, where they are being used to improve commercial and academic performance through greater efficiency.

For healthcare professionals, the ultimate end-goal is providing the best care and treatment for their patients. In this increasingly demand sector, new technology such as scheduling software must play an increasing role in helping to automate administrative processes and cut paperwork - saving money, time and allowing a greater focus towards patient care.

BookWise Solutions has revealed StudyWise, its newest software application to improve the management of doctors in training. For more information, visit www.bookwisesolutions.com