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Showing results for tags 'Technology'.
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Content Article
How healthcare employers can alleviate staff burnout using technology
Anonymous posted an article in Staff safety
In this blog, Hannah Wilkinson, Head of People & Culture at Radar Healthcare, describes five ways health tech companies can alleviate burnout across the workforce, following recently reported news that as many as 400 staff are leaving the NHS each week due to the effects of stress. -
News Article
Royal Surrey County Hospital to launch virtual ward to free up beds
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The Royal Surrey County Hospital is preparing to open its first virtual ward. From this summer 15 patients will receive treatment at home using apps and wearable technology, as an alternative to a stay in hospital. The ward will be overseen by a consultant, working with therapists, nursing staff and pharmacists. The hospital, in Guildford, plans to extend the ward to 52 patients by April 2024. Health providers across England have been asked to deliver virtual wards at a rate of 40 to 50 beds per 100,000 people by December 2023. It is hoped they will free up beds more quickly, speeding up admissions from A&E and for elective surgery. Read full story Source: BBC News, 7 June 2022 -
Content ArticleThis white paper is intended for non-specialists who may have little or no professional background in human factors and ergonomics but who are influential in the way decisions are made about the development and use of technology. The knowledge and guidance it contains is based on both fundamental scientific and applied research, as well as from deep study and learning from adverse events. The paper is based around nine principles that provide an easy-to-follow guide to human factors issues which need to be addressed when developing and implementing highly automated systems.
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Content ArticleThis report explores the factors influencing healthcare workers’ confidence in AI-driven technologies. A second report will detail how their confidence can be developed through education and training.
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News Article
‘Total IT failure’ at four hospitals sparks safety concerns
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Four hospitals in Greater Manchester are struggling with a near ‘total IT failure’ which has forced staff in all key services to use handwritten lists and notes. The problems have affected multiple IT systems across Royal Oldham, Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary and North Manchester General hospitals. Staff at the sites are running theatre and emergency departments using handwritten patient lists and notes, while bloods and scan results are also being written by hand. Patient histories are largely unavailable. HSJ spoke to staff who said there are major concerns over patient safety, as the lack of digital systems increases the risk of errors, and also slows down multiple processes. They described the problems as a “total IT failure”. Chris Brookes, deputy CEO and chief medical officer, said: “Patient safety and maintaining essential services remains our priority. We are doing everything we can to fix the IT issues and to limit disruption to patients and our services." Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 25 May 2022 -
Content ArticleIn this guest blog for the Professional Records Standards Body (PRSB), Taffy Gatawa, Chief Information and Compliance Officer at everyLIFE Technologies, talks about the importance of ensuring that healthcare technologies comply with recognised standards. She discusses everyLIFE's experience on PRSB’s Standards Partnership Scheme, and their journey to implementing standards in their digital products. Taffy describes a process of learning and feedback, achieved through desktop research, clinical reviews and critical engagement with PRSB and customers.
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Content Article‘Digital clinical safety’ refers to avoiding harm to patients and staff that could be caused by technologies manufactured, implemented and used in the health service. In this blog, Dr Kelsey Flott, Deputy Director of Patient Safety at the NHS Transformation Directorate, looks at the importance of digital clinical safety in driving quality improvement. She talks about how the Digital Clinical Strategy is being implemented and the drive to collect better evidence about the effectiveness of improvement technologies.
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Content ArticleLisa Drake, an NHS ex General Practice Manager now working in a digital advisory role, shares some of the missed opportunities for digital ways of working she witnessed when she was a patient herself.
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Content ArticleThis report has been developed by the Patient Coalition for AI, Data and Digital Tech in Health, which aims to unite representatives from patient advocacy groups, including Patient Safety Learning, Royal Colleges, medical charities, industry and other stakeholders committed to ensuring that patient interests lie at the heart of digital health policy and discussions. The report focuses on how programmes have worked with patients to reduce digital health inequalities, by supporting those who are unable to access and use the internet and digital devices to improve their health and general wellbeing.
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News Article
Hundreds of organisations breached patient data rules, reveals BMJ
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Hundreds of organisations, including drug companies, private healthcare providers and universities, have breached patient data sharing agreements but not had their access to patient data withdrawn, a report reveals. “High risk” breaches were revealed to have occurred at healthcare groups, pharmaceutical giants and educational institutions including Virgin Care, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Imperial College London, during audits by NHS Digital, according to an investigation by the BMJ. This means these organisations were handling information outside the remit agreed in data contracts and may be failing to protect confidentiality, the journal said. In one instance, local NHS commissioners allowed sensitive, identifiable patient data to be released to Virgin Care without permission from NHS Digital. When auditors tried to get access to Virgin Care to check their compliance, they were denied access for several weeks and the company refused to delete the patient data, the BMJ reported. Records about mental health, including children and young people, those with learning disabilities, diagnostic imaging and other confidential patient data was being processed outside the scope of objectives agreed with NHS Digital, at an address that had not been agreed, and without a data sharing contract. A spokesperson for Virgin Care said it had “robust data protection in place”. “It is outrageous that private companies and university research teams are failing to comply,” said Kingsley Manning, the former chair of NHS Digital. “How is it that these organisations can be so lax with data?” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 11 May 2022 -
EventuntilThis Webinar hosted by Hamilton Medical, will focus on the clinical use of intelligent ventilation software. Agenda Intro from Chair Luigi Camporata Presentation from Prof. Giorgio A. Iotti : “ The birth and growth of the visionary idea” Presentation from Laura Buiteman-Kruizinga: “Lung protective ventilation in the time of COVID-19” Followed by a Q&A Register for the webinar
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Content ArticleNearly half of all adults and approximately 8% of children (aged 5-17) worldwide have a chronic condition. Yet, studies have consistently shown that adherence to medication is poor; estimates range from under 80% to under 50%, with an average of 50%. There could be a considerable improvement in health outcomes (and consequently longevity), not only by developing new drugs, but by helping people adhere to existing treatment regimens that have already been researched, tested and prescribed for them. But adherence isn’t usually prioritised by governments, health providers or healthcare professionals (HCPs). Adherence isn’t measured at a national level for any disease, apart from in Sweden where hypertension is recorded. And as governments don’t prioritise adherence, health providers aren’t measured or incentivised for improving it, meaning HCPs may not have the time and resources (or reminders) to focus on it during consultations. This report from the International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC) makes a series of recommendations.
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EventuntilDevelopment Partnerships, whilst common in other sectors, are rare in the NHS. However, these have proven remarkably successful when they’ve been implemented. HUC, one of the highest performing NHS 111 and GP OOH providers in the country, provides Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care for a population of 3.3M in the East of England. For the past six years HUC has worked in a joint Development Partnership with Content Guru, whose storm® contact centre solution is Europe’s biggest and most advanced cloud-based communications platform. The Development Partnership has jointly adapted Content Guru’s storm platform to meet HUC’s specific and evolving requirements across its service. This has grown to become the exemplar communications model for IUEC in England. It is currently being rolled out across all 16 NHS 111 providers in England. Development Partnerships, whilst common in other sectors, are rare in the NHS. However, these have proven remarkably successful when they’ve been implemented. In this webinar HUC’s CEO and Content Guru’s Head of Healthcare will discuss their journey together, share their key tips for success, and showcase some of the resulting innovations. Register for the webinar.
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Content ArticleAn increasing number of cancer patients are using the internet to better understand their disease and connect with others facing the same challenges. Online cancer communities have developed into resources that highlight new research and evolving treatments. Combined with increasing health literacy and social media, they have enabled some patients to become experts in their cancer. This article in the journal JCO Oncology Practice examines the role of expert patients (e-patients) in advancing cancer medicine, and looks at opportunities available to those who wish to become more involved in research advocacy. The authors found that e-patients play a greater role in their own care and in larger conversations regarding practice, research, and policy. They highlight that clinicians can engage e-patients as partners in cancer care to work together towards improving healthcare access and outcomes for people with cancer.
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EventuntilDigital technologies are transforming the way in which health and care is delivered. They have played a crucial role in enabling the delivery of services during the pandemic and are set to continue to play a pivotal role in the design, delivery and innovation of health and care going forward. This event will take a deep dive into the practical implementation of digital solutions in health and care. We will explore how data insights and technology are being used to improve care, access and user experience against the backdrop of the impact of Covid-19. Sessions will also provide an opportunity to assess how a range of digital tools from simple to complex can be used to innovate service design, support integration, improve population health management, and reduce health inequalities, touching on implications for staff and patients. Book a ticket
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Content ArticleThis is the report of Professor Ben Goldacre’s review into how the efficient and safe use of health data for research and analysis can benefit patients and the healthcare sector. It sets out a practical vision of how the Department of Health and the NHS can curate, manage and analyse the huge volume of health data available in the UK, and then communicate and use that data to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of health services.
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Event
Cyber threats to health and patient safety
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
Through multidisciplinary lectures from expert speakers and lively panel discussions, this Royal Society of Medicine conference will look at the current cybersecurity threats facing health and care organisations and examine the progress made by healthcare institutions since 2017 in rising to the challenge of cybersecurity. We will focus on the issues facing the NHS today and the steps that NHS organisations should take to protect themselves. Attendees will learn how cybercriminals and hostile nation-states pose a threat to patient safety and trust. Delegates will hear from NHSX, NHS Digital and key organisations that combat cyber threats daily. They will also hear directly from experts in the field about the steps they are taking to help healthcare organisations to address their issues and concerns. During this event, you will: Current cybersecurity threats faced by healthcare organisations from both cybercriminals and hostile nations. Specific risks due to online working, increasing digitalisation and prevalence of connected medical devices and artificial intelligence (e.g. data provenance). Specific risks due to the use of medical and telehealth devices in the home and community. How the NHS is equipped to deal with current and future threats. Tools and approaches to protect organisations and devices from attack. Register -
Content ArticleA large proportion of avoidable harm and adverse events occur in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable (FCV) settings. This article in the BMJ Open outlines the online Delphi study approach that will be taken to generate a consensus on the most relevant patient safety interventions for FCV settings. The results of this study will create a list of the most relevant patient safety interventions, based on the consensus reached among a range of experts including frontline clinicians and administrators, non-governmental organisations, policymakers and researchers. The study aims to increase awareness of the issues in this area, and identify priority interventions as well as areas for further evaluation and research.
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Content ArticleThis Health Foundation long read explores how the NHS in England can better use routine health data to help address current challenges, including winter pressures, the ongoing coronavirus response and the growing elective care backlog. It examines the longstanding barriers to widespread use of data and data science, consider what actions might help to overcome these, and explore whether the data strategy for health and social care will deliver the change needed.
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News Article
Artificial pancreas to revolutionise diabetes care in England
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Nearly 900 patients with type 1 diabetes in England are testing a potentially life-changing artificial pancreas. It can eliminate the need for finger prick tests and prevent life-threatening hypoglycaemic attacks, where blood sugar levels fall too low. The technology uses a sensor under the skin. It continually monitors the levels, and a pump automatically adjusts the amount of insulin required. Six-year-old Charlotte, from Lancashire, is one of more than 200 children using the hybrid closed loop system. Her mother, Ange Abbott, told us it has made a massive impact on the whole family. "Prior to having the loop, everything was manual," she said. "At night we'd have to set the alarm every two hours to do finger pricks and corrections of insulin in order to deal with the ups and downs of Charlotte's blood sugars." Prof Partha Kar, NHS national speciality adviser for diabetes, said: "Having machines monitor and deliver medication for diabetes patients sounds quite sci-fi like, but technology and machines are part and parcel of how we live our lives every day. "It is not very far away from the holy grail of a fully automated system, where people with type 1 diabetes can get on with their lives without worrying about glucose levels or medication." Read full story Source: BBC News, 1 April 2022 Further reading on the hub How safe are closed loop artificial pancreas systems? -
Content ArticleIn January 2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global health emergency. Healthcare systems around the world faced enormous pressures as hospital admissions increased. Amongst others, med-tech companies experienced a vast increase in demand for Covid-19 related products, alongside declining demand for non-essential products, and so had to adapt their supply chains to ensure the sustained, timely delivery of medical devices. In addition, teams had to navigate disruptions to global supply chains due to various border lockdowns and tighter trade and export restrictions worldwide. Prior to the unprecedented demands of the pandemic, med-tech supply chain management was not a hot topic in the news, or generally known amongst the public. However, it has recently gained traction across the news worldwide as supply chain managers have worked relentlessly to re-establish the equilibrium within this ever-changing landscape. The med-tech industry should look to continue to re-build their supply chains, so that they can be more agile and flexible, and respond to potential future issues efficiently and effectively.
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Content ArticleRaDonda Leanne Vaught faced criminal charges over a fatal medication error she made in 2017. Her trial has raised important questions over medical errors, reporting and process improvement, as well as who bears responsibility for widespread use of tech overrides in hospitals. There is debate over whether automated dispensing cabinet overrides are a reckless act or institutionalised as ordinary given the widespread use of IT workarounds among healthcare professionals. The Nashville District Attorney's Office described this override as a reckless act and a foundation for Ms. Vaught's reckless homicide charge, while some experts have said cabinet overrides are used daily at many hospitals.
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Content ArticleGender bias in healthcare is a well-recognised issue. From diagnosis to drug development and treatment, the modern healthcare system has been shown to advantage men over women. Responsibly designed artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms have the potential to overcome gender bias in medicine. However, if machine learning methods are implemented without careful thought and consideration they can lead to the perpetuation and even accentuation of existing biases. How can we develop technology in a way that prevents rather than perpetuates bias? This blog from Babylon highlights 4 key principles that can help.
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Content Article
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In this blog Patient Safety Learning’s Chief Executive, Helen Hughes, discusses the connection between procurement, supply chains and patient safety, ahead of an upcoming Safety for All Campaign webinar on this topic. -
Content ArticleWearable devices are a modern marvel. They teach users exactly how many calories you can burn by running up a flight of stairs, record sleep patterns down to the minute a neighbour’s safety light wakes you up, monitor your heart rate and alert you if anything gets out of whack, and even control your music during a workout. And that’s not even touching on the medical wearables that patients use to manage chronic conditions. We’re living in a time when so much information is available on our wrists or in our palms, and these devices are improving the lives and health of users all over the world. And yet, they’re not perfect. Software Advice surveyed over 450 US patients who currently use medically-prescribed wearable devices to better understand their experiences.
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