A digital healthcare app, SafeTrack, is in use at UHS which stores all patient observations, NEWS2 scores and fluid balance. Healthcare staff enter this information into SafeTrack. Clinicians can then see the patient information on mobile devices.

When a patient is staying in hospital their observations are regularly taken, such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and respiration rate.  This is essential to assess patients and recognise if their condition is deteriorating.  This used to be a handwritten process, however, paper observations charts can be illegible, with missing or inaccurate data.

SafeTrack gives a full audit history for clinical analysis and reports any adverse events. Data from SafeTrack can also identify the sickest patients in some wards at UHS.

The benefits of a digital system are many. There is less duplication of data capture, such as the collection of a patient’s height and weight –  taken once and shared many times.

SafeTrack has seen better management of conditions and improves patient safety. The system allows safer transfers of care because the patient information is instantly available to the receiving clinicians.

Healthcare professionals can make informed decisions for their patient. A good example is nursing staff who have access to digital data which allows appropriate oxygen administration, if required.

Soon all clinicians will have access to mobile devices with the digital healthcare app SafeTrack installed so they can receive real-time alerts for a rapid response to patient care. They will then be able to take prompt action, with the aim to reduce patient harm.