New digital assessment for blood clots to launch

Patients admitted to hospitals at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group’s (NCA) in Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and North Manchester will benefit from improved assessment for suspected blood clots.

From 4 June, staff will begin using a new electronic tool to assess inpatients for all types of blood clots, including Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE).

The digital improvements are part of the Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) Fast Follower Programme at the Alliance.

The NCA brings together Salford Royal and Pennine Acute Hospital Trusts.

This project involves the implementation of a standard electronic assessment for patients with suspected Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) within the ePMA (Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration) system.

This will significantly benefit patients, standardising their care and treatment and ensuring that they do not have to undergo unnecessary treatment.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins of the leg, pelvis and arms. These clots can travel in the circulation and lodge in the lungs, known as pulmonary embolism (PE). Along with other superficial and rarer types of clot, DVT and PE are described together by the umbrella term of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE).

All patients admitted to hospital or undergoing procedures whilst in hospital, have an increased risk of VTE with 60 percent of all VTE occurring in hospital inpatients or patients who have recently been admitted to hospital. One in four people worldwide die of conditions caused by thrombosis.

The electronic assessment forms the basis of decision making for prescribing of mechanical and chemical thromboprophylaxis.

Dr Shona McCallum, medical director at Bury & Rochdale Care Organisation explained: “Digitising this assessment process will mean we provide safer and more standardised care to all our patients. The current assessment for VTE is recorded manually on paper so these improvements will improve our way of working and ensure we treat patients better.”

The VTE electronic assessment tool is being rolled out in phases across the hospitals where required, for all newly admitted patients over 16-years-old. The first areas to benefit will be The Royal Oldham Hospital’s orthopaedic ward T7 and gastroenterology ward G2.

Maternity, paediatrics, critical care and emergency department are not included in the project as these areas have other systems.

Doctors will be unable to prescribe medications until a VTE risk assessment has been completed, encouraging all clinicians to complete the vital check. The tool will then signpost clinicians to the most appropriate treatment.

Dr Georges Ng Man Kwong, Chief Clinical Information Officer at the Northern Care Alliance, said: “This is another fantastic project to launch as part of the Global Digital Exemplar Fast Follower programme. Digitising our clinical pathways will streamline patient care in a number of specialties and really make a difference to both staff and patients. We look forward to rolling out further projects across the Trust this year.”