Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust have implemented Clinisys ICE to support electronic ordering of radiology and pathology tests, replacing paper and legacy systems.
The system went live in June and is now used by around 2,000 staff across wards, maternity and paediatrics, emergency and same day emergency care, and outpatients.
The deployment forms part of the Trust’s wider digital plans, within the Kent and Medway Pathology Network, covering seven laboratories across four NHS trusts.
It is preparing to procure a new electronic patient record (EPR), while its laboratories will implement the Clinisys WinPath laboratory information management system (LIMS) next year. Once the LIMS is operational, ICE will also deliver results electronically, reducing turnaround times and supporting clinical decision-making.
Guy Sisson, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Chief Clinical Information Officer and Senior Responsible Officer for the project, said: “This has been a long-running project that has really picked up speed over the past year. Once we decided on a big-bang go-live, our project team, our IT team, Clinisys, and our PAS supplier all worked together to make it work. It was almost like a hackathon, with everybody in a room making it happen. Since then, the feedback has been how intuitive the system is. It has been received very, very well.”
Mo Khan, Programme director of Digital at Dartford and Gravesham, said: “We will have access to the results of tests ordered by GPs, and they will have access to the results of tests ordered in hospital. That should mean fewer repeat tests will be needed, and clinicians will have more information on which to make decisions about their patients.”
Louise Dewing, Programme manager at Clinisys, added: “The roll-out of Clinisys ICE at Dartford and Gravesham shows just how important pathology is to modern healthcare and how modern pathology systems can act as the foundation for further digital developments.”
