Customer stories
Faster care for patients in Liverpool
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EMIS Web® is making a huge difference to neighbourhood teams in Liverpool.
It’s part of the overall Healthy Liverpool vision, supporting people to stay well and providing the very best in care. Community care teams are being established for each neighbourhood, bringing together a core community team, which will typically involve general practitioners, practice nurses, social workers, community nurses, community mental health nurses and health trainers. It will also involve other care professionals, voluntary organisations and agencies that may be involved in an individual’s care - including close working with housing officers.
There are growing numbers of neighbourhood teams across the city, and Liverpool CCG is ensuring resources are tailored to the healthcare issues in each neighbourhood.
The right support in the right place
Clinicians from different healthcare teams are working together to tackle the prevalent health and wellbeing issues specific to each neighbourhood. Jenny Dalzell, neighbourhood transformation manager, Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group, explains: “For example in Walton, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is our main concern, so we’re concentrating on providing the right support in the right place delivered by the most appropriate professional to focus on this condition, the community care team working seamlessly to support people to manage their symptoms. In South Liverpool, we are focused on providing support to an older population – both their physical wellness and social care – and ensuring for example if they live on their own they’re not isolated.”
A district nurse referral form used to be five pages long. Now it’s one click.”
Connecting care
This connected approach to patient care is underpinned by Optum (formerly EMIS) technology. Using EMIS Web, clinicians can access shared patient data in real time, so everyone has a clear picture of each patient’s care whenever and wherever they need it.
Previously teams were quite fragmented, and using technology we’re facilitating joined-up community and primary care.”
This means referrals can be made more quickly and patients can be seen faster. GPs use the referral functionality in EMIS Web and these referrals can be picked up by the receiving team almost straight away. This has had a direct positive affect on patient care: “Patients are being seen quicker. Mostly the patient is seen on the same day. That wouldn’t have happened before,” said Jenny.
Quick and easy
Demographic and patient care information can be shared so that this doesn’t need to be recaptured by any other healthcare professionals treating the same patient. This is saving time for everyone, and allowing everyone to focus on patient care rather than recording information. “A district nurse referral form used to be five pages long. Now it’s one click.”
Follow patients' progress
Increased visibility of patient care is another benefit for clinicians. Jenny explains: “Previously a paper referral form would have gone to a central team in the city, and the GP wouldn’t have known what happened after that. Now they can follow the progress in the system, so they can see what’s happening with their patient.”
This is just one initiative delivering results as part of the Healthy Liverpool vision.