A real team effort saw electronic patient records go live for our smallest patients last week.

The Neonatal Unit has already led the way in the region with some elements of an EPR. They were the first to go live with BadgerVideo, which means parents can be involved in their baby's care over video link, including getting involved in ward rounds with clinicians. This is especially useful for parents who aren't local to the hospital.

Last week the unit became one of the first in the region to install a new EPR, called BadgerNet.

BadgerNet EPR provides the unit with a patient record that has been specifically developed for neonatal requirements and supplements our existing Badger system, which is widely used across the UK. It provides a safe way of storing and retrieving patient information, has links to guidelines, provides relevant scoring systems and alerts for patient care, produces unit reports, and is environmentally friendly by almost completely ending the use of paperwork on the unit.  Time saved on handwritten documentation, particularly by nursing staff, will reduce workload and benefit babies and parents on the unit. 

General Manager, Elena Gelsthorpe-Hill, said: “This wouldn’t have been possible without a few key colleagues who have driven this project forward so quickly and smoothly."

"So, huge thanks to our Badger Data Officer, Hazel Williams – the first person in the region to pass the Badger Course (second from left) – plus colleagues; Staff Nurse Sal Burgess, Advanced Practioner Vicky Iggleden, Ward Manager Wendy Kilner, Atif Riaz, Consultant Karin Schwarz, THIS’s David Armitage and Laura Chambers.

"Plus all our superusers on the Neonatal Unit who have worked tirelessly to ensure staff are trained. Thanks also to Hayley McDonald, our project manager with Clevermed.”

The unit will be progressing towards the next phase later this year. This step will involve interfacing (connecting) with monitors and equipment.