Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
The Access Group, through Rio Mobilise and Rio EPR, is supporting health and social care as it grows. Modern software is cutting the admin demands on community nurses, meaning more focus on care.
Rio Mobilise is working for Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.
It is a software solution that frees clinicians to make more efficient use of their time, which means less stress and more dedicated time for patient care.
Community nurses are dealing with more work than ever as people live longer and longer. Healthcare advancements are fantastic, but the support has to be there for clinical staff to enable them to provide the care needed. Software like Rio Mobilise meets this criteria; saving time on record keeping and making it quicker and easier to access client information for visits.
INTRODUCTION
Rio Mobilise, created in partnership with Totalmobile, is a mobile app. It runs on smartphones and tablets and allows clinical staff such as community nurses to access patient data and to record notes whilst on the move or in a client’s home. It can even be pre-loaded with records in case of losing internet access or phone signal.
The app provides greater independence to care staff. There’s less need to return to the office as data can be communicated remotely, and the speed and ease of the work means it’s easy to explain and even show the working process to the clients too – reassuring them of the quality of care at hand.
The Access Group is working closely with Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust as part of their 10-year plan to implement these changes and to empower clinical staff.
“The Rio app saves me time. It’s quicker than the laptop. I’m spending more time with the patient, which is giving them a better quality of care.”
Louise Searle Clinician at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
HOW ACCESS HELPED
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust are currently working through their 10-year plan. A core part of this was modernising their approach to community care. Domiciliary care is short-staffed nationally, so the big challenge is how to maximise the efficiency of these clinicians to ensure they’re focused on the care work at the heart of their job and are not losing time – and focus – by filling out endless documents and client notes.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced a faster rollout of Rio Mobilise, however. What was originally scheduled to be brought forward by weeks became a rapid response from The Access Group and Totalmobile to launch the app with Southern Health in just six days. Staff working for the trust were already using Rio EPR, so the option to add Rio Mobilise was always going to complement existing protocols and processes, but the main aim was patient history on hand at the point of contact. This was a big gap in the day-to-day workings of carers, and something that could no longer be ignored as Covid-19 hit the UK.
The Rio Mobilise app installs on all smartphones and tablets and replaces outdated laptops and other more difficult software. It starts quickly, communicates data remotely, and it can be customised to each user.
In their own words, the goal for Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust was to figure out the minimum number of forms that they could work with. Reducing paperwork, reducing duplication, reducing staff stress. The Access Group has simplified the data recording process and freed healthcare staff up so they may provide the face-to-face care they’re so eager to give.
“It helps me do my job better by having that progress note to hand so I can see the conversations and the treatment plan that’s been put in place prior to my visit for that patient. I can read the notes in front of the patient and give the patient any answers they require.”
Jannine Ford Healthcare Support Worker at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
THE RESULT
- Staff were able to learn how to use Rio Mobilise quickly
- Access to client records is now available even offline
- Data is secure, but easy to share with colleagues & management
- Records and notes can be pre-loaded for low/no signal areas
- Secure access for each individual community nurse or care team
- Fewer journeys needed as staff can remotely communicate with the office
- Streamlined referral process from carer to Trust
- Greater client confidence in community carers
- Reduced staff stress from data input problems or delays
“It really has helped to improve the wellbeing of our staff, which is really important, and for our patients it’s also transformed the way that we’re able to deliver care. It allows us to share information with them in real time, it allows us to care plan with them, and I think it instils a confidence in them that the information we’re using to deliver their care is up to date.”
Sharon Hargreaves
CCIO, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
