What was once the pinnacle of hospital communications, having established itself over 50 years ago, it still exists as the backbone of inter-specialty communication. Surely, now with the PC/internet and smartphone boom, there must be an alternative method of hospital communication.
In America, some hospitals use a Pager system whereby, one can actually send a text message rather than just a 4-digit telephone extension (which you hope isn't a prank bleep '8008' at 3am). However, this is still obsolete technology.
When staff have technology in their pockets or handbags which are more powerful than these dreaded bleeps, we need to think again.
Some places I've worked have replaced the bleeps with cheap Nokia mobile phones. This works great only in a hospital that isn't lead-walled and has good network reception.
One idea I've been thinking is a whatsapp-like platform. A cross-platform smartphone application integrated with the hospital WiFi which allows users to "log in" as specific roles. Thereafter, calls and text messages can be sent to the individual user. An additional benefit would allow group messaging for team messages
Let's take a scenario (the present):
- Mr Smith in ED is waiting to be seen by the On-Call General Surgical team
- ED Matron bleeps the Surgical SHO to find out when Mr Smith will get seen
- SHO is in a coridoor between wards to assist the FY1 with an unwell patient. Can't find a phone
- ED Matron bleeps SHO again
- SHO gets to the ward, phones are being used already
- ED Matron bleeps SHO again
- SHO goes to the opposite ward to find a phone and call the Matron back to explain he is being delayed as he is attending to an acutely unwell patient on the ward
- ED Matron is now happy
- Suddenly, the Bed Manager notices Mr Smith is now waiting 3hr30m and is close to breaching the ED 4-hour wait and bleeps the SHO to find out if Mr Smith should be admitted
- SHO is now attending to the sick patient so ignores the bleep
......15 minutes later....
- Bed Manager still can't get hold of SHO so calls the SpR who is offsite and enjoying his MaccyD's..
..........you get the point........
My new age scenario:
- Mr Smith in ED is waiting to be seen by the On-Call General Surgical team
- ED Matron messages the "On Call Surgical Team" group to ask when someone from the Team will see Mr Smith
- The SHO replies in the message group that he is "On his way to see a sick ward patient and will attend ED after that"
- The Site Manager, who can also screen the ED Matron messages has seen this conversation so goes on to organise a SAU bed for Mr Smith and messages the "On Call Surgical Team" group with this information
- Now the SHO has saved a life, he can now go to SAU instead of ED to see Mr Smith...
Now who wants to partner with me and design this infrastructure?
