District nurses in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil are using Chromebooks during home visits to speed up access to patient information and avoid delays in treatment.
With the introduction of this new technology, funded by the Welsh government, district nurses have direct access to the health board’s electronic systems and patient information. They can view test results which gives them the ability to manage the patient’s condition more effectively at home, improving patient outcomes and potentially avoiding unnecessary hospital admission or attendance at A&E.
District Nurse Team leader, Andrea Dorrington, said, ‘The Chromebooks have been very successful. It saves us time ringing for results and calling into surgeries, we can see exactly what treatment is required and action it instantly – this prevents delays in medication and treatment. We can also use it to order patient equipment and book referrals.’
Janet Kelland – who manages the project – explained, ‘We are always looking at ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency to the care that we provide to our patients and this has definitely been a positive way forward.’
Source: Cwm Taf University Health Board
