New IT system to help NHS patients

The i-Tracker information system enables both hospital staff and partner organisations such as Social Services to access daily reports on all patients due to be discharged within the next 48 hours.

The system will be an invaluable tool for managing bed capacity and arranging transport for patients due to be discharged.

I-Tracker is currently in use in a number of wards, but will be rolled out across all Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust hospitals over the coming months.

All staff admitting patients will be expected to identify an expected date of discharge within the first 36 hours, meaning i-Tracker can keep track of patients whose discharge is delayed, those sleeping in wards not dedicated to their medical condition and those requiring Social Services input.

The system also notes patients requiring transport to get home and those re-admitted to hospital within 30 days.

Clinical leads, ward staff, primary care staff and Social Services have all been involved in ensuring the system is practical and easy to navigate.

For the first time, information about all patients receiving treatment in the hospital and their expected discharge dates will be collated in one easy-to-access place.

It is anticipated the i-Tracker will help to ease the perennial winter problem of managing beds when hospitals are at their busiest.

Doncaster & Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust said: “The value of i-Tracker is in its simplicity. All staff throughout the hospital and wider health and social care organisations can access the system. Its design is practical and easy to navigate, which has encouraged staff to use it.”

The Trust handles approximately 50,000 inpatients and 100,000 outpatients every year.