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Solving the Forgotten Ureteral Stent Issue in the NHS: Capri Healthcare’s Innovative Stent Register Solution

Ureteral stents are vital in procedures like kidney stone removals, allowing urine flow post-surgery. However, when these stents are accidentally left in place, complications can arise—patients face risks of infection, encrustation, and in severe cases, kidney damage. In the NHS, forgotten ureteral stents (RUS) represent a critical challenge, impacting both patient outcomes and healthcare resources.

The Challenge of Forgotten Stents in the NHS

With approximately 140 NHS trusts providing urology services, the incidence of forgotten stents is high. These incidents often occur due to follow-up lapses, communication barriers, or a lack of effective tracking systems. When stents remain in the body for too long, they can calcify, causing blockages that lead to infections, discomfort, and potentially irreversible kidney damage. Patients suffer both physically and emotionally, with the need for additional surgeries prolonging recovery times and healthcare dependency. Additionally, these incidents lead to increasing healthcare costs, stretching NHS resources thin.

Financial and Legal Implications for the NHS

The costs of forgotten stents extend beyond patient care. Legal claims from patients impacted by RUS-related complications cost the NHS millions annually. Each lawsuit represents not only a financial strain but also a reputational risk for the NHS. Reducing RUS incidents could alleviate financial pressures, improve patient satisfaction, and strengthen the NHS’s commitment to safe and effective care​(GEH StentRegister DPIA …).

Introducing Capri Healthcare’s Stent Register Solution

To address this pressing issue, Capri Healthcare developed the Stent Register, a comprehensive, multi-platform application designed to mitigate the RUS problem by ensuring end-to-end stent tracking and reminders. This solution alerts healthcare providers and patients when a stent is due for removal, preventing the risk of stents being forgotten. Key features include:

1. Barcode Scanning: Automatically captures stent details by scanning the package, reducing human error.
2. Comprehensive Data Logging: Stores vital data, such as patient demographics, stent size, insertion/removal dates, and more, for accurate tracking​(Stent-Register-Service …).
3. Notification System: Sends timely alerts for stent removals to both patients and healthcare staff via SMS and email.
4. Multi-platform Access: Available on both desktop and mobile devices, providing flexible access for busy hospital teams.
5. Future EHR Integration: Planned compatibility with systems like Lorenzo will allow seamless integration with existing NHS electronic health records (EHRs)​(GEH StentRegister DPIA …)​(Stent-Register-Service …).

Cost Savings and Safety Benefits for the NHS

The Stent Register aligns with NHS priorities to enhance patient safety and reduce operational inefficiencies. Investing in this system can help the NHS reduce the incidence of RUS, avoid preventable readmissions, and limit legal liabilities. Considering that a single case of forgotten stents can cost thousands of pounds in corrective surgeries, legal fees, and additional healthcare, the Stent Register presents a valuable one-time investment with significant potential for long-term savings.

Trust-Wide Adoption and Proven Results

Capri Healthcare’s Stent Register has already been piloted in NHS settings, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing RUS and improving urological care. With secure data storage, ISO 27001 compliance, and a GDPR-compliant design, this solution ensures both patient safety and data privacy​(GEH StentRegister DPIA …)​(Stent-Register-Service …).

Get in Touch to Arrange a Demo

For NHS trusts interested in eliminating the challenges of forgotten stents, Capri Healthcare offers tailored demos of the Stent Register. To explore how this system can improve patient care, prevent complications, and potentially save your trust millions, contact Capri Healthcare at sales@caprihealthcare.co.uk or visit https://caprihealthcare.co.uk/portfolio/stentregister/ to learn more.

Capri Healthcare’s Stent Register brings innovative, patient-focused solutions to the forefront of urology care, enabling the NHS to reduce legal risks, save costs, and ultimately provide safer, more reliable healthcare.

Reflection on the 2024 Budget: Implications for the NHS, Local GPs, and Small Healthcare Suppliers

The 2024 Budget, delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, brings a substantial £22.6 billion increase to NHS funding, signaling a recognition of healthcare’s urgent demands. However, the increased National Insurance (NI) rates for employers, which rise from 13.8% to 15%, and the addition of VAT on private school fees introduce new cost pressures that could ripple through the healthcare supply chain, affecting local GPs and small businesses that support NHS operations.

For GPs, the rise in NI contributions could limit their ability to expand their workforce, which is vital to meet growing patient needs. These costs, while part of a broader commitment to public healthcare funding, place new burdens on smaller practices already grappling with recruitment challenges and constrained resources. Additionally, small businesses supplying healthcare products and services to the NHS may see operational costs rise with VAT adjustments and an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, which could impact their ability to meet demand or remain competitive in providing essential goods and services.

In light of these fiscal changes, innovative solutions like Capri Healthcare’s v-Consult and TriVice can offer significant relief by enhancing healthcare delivery efficiency. These digital health platforms are designed to reduce costs, improve access, and ease the pressures on healthcare organizations by streamlining traditionally resource-intensive processes.

The Role of Digital Innovations in Cost Reduction and Efficiency

v-Consult, a remote consultation tool, can help reduce costs for the NHS by enabling GPs to manage appointments online, which not only conserves clinical resources but also minimizes the need for in-person visits, reducing travel costs for patients. This remote model can be particularly beneficial in rural or underserved areas, where accessing healthcare can be costly and time-consuming for patients. By providing an accessible, AI-enabled platform for remote patient interactions, v-Consult enhances convenience for patients while allowing GPs to maximize their time and see more patients with fewer delays.

TriVice, an AI-driven triage and referral management platform, further contributes to operational efficiencies by automating the initial stages of patient assessments. It enables faster, more accurate triaging of cases, directing patients to the appropriate care pathways without requiring intensive manual intervention from consultants. For NHS hospitals and GPs, this can significantly reduce the time and administrative workload involved in triaging cases, helping to alleviate bottlenecks and ensuring that high-priority cases are identified and addressed promptly. The AI in TriVice also enhances data accuracy and processing speed, which can lead to better patient outcomes and a more streamlined healthcare journey.

Supporting Small Suppliers in the NHS Ecosystem

For small businesses that supply the NHS, platforms like TriVice represent potential cost-saving solutions, as they can reduce the administrative and logistical expenses associated with fulfilling NHS demands. In an environment where operational costs are rising, these digital tools provide small suppliers with a pathway to maintain competitiveness and meet NHS standards efficiently. By integrating these innovations into daily healthcare operations, small suppliers and local practices can collectively reduce costs and improve service delivery.

As we consider the broader impact of the 2024 Budget on healthcare, these innovations stand out as pivotal solutions for NHS resilience. Strategic investments in digital health not only support financial sustainability but also enable the NHS, GPs, and suppliers to deliver high-quality, accessible healthcare across the UK. In challenging economic times, these tools offer a way forward, blending fiscal responsibility with patient-centric care.

In today’s fast-paced world, patient engagement has become a cornerstone of effective healthcare delivery. Leveraging healthcare technology to enhance patient communication is crucial for improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. This blog explores best practices for engaging patients through technology, focusing on the pivotal role of healthcare communication in this process.

The Importance of Patient Engagement

Patient engagement refers to the process of involving patients in their own healthcare. It empowers individuals to take an active role in managing their health, leading to better health outcomes and improved patient satisfaction. Effective patient engagement requires robust healthcare communication channels that facilitate clear, consistent, and timely information exchange between patients and healthcare providers.

Utilising Healthcare Technology for Better Communication

• Implementing Patient Portals: Patient portals are a powerful tool for enhancing patient engagement. Portals provide patients with secure access to their health information, appointment schedules, test results, and educational resources. By promoting transparency and accessibility, patient portals improve healthcare communication and empower patients to stay informed about their health.
• Telehealth Services: Telehealth has revolutionised patient engagement by providing remote access to healthcare services. Patients can consult with their healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes, reducing travel time and making healthcare more accessible. Telehealth platforms facilitate real-time healthcare communication, ensuring that patients receive timely care and advice.
• Mobile Health Applications: Mobile health (mHealth) apps are designed to engage patients in their healthcare journey. These apps offer features such as appointment reminders, medication tracking, and health monitoring. By integrating mHealth apps into their practice, healthcare providers can enhance patient communication and encourage patients to actively manage their health.
• Automated Communication Systems: Automated communication systems, such as SMS and email reminders, play a significant role in patient engagement. These systems can send reminders for appointments, medication refills, and preventive care, ensuring that patients stay on top of their healthcare needs. Effective use of automated systems streamlines healthcare communication and reduces the risk of missed appointments and non-compliance.
• Social Media and Online Communities: Social media platforms and online communities offer a unique opportunity for healthcare providers to engage with patients. By creating informative and interactive content, providers can foster a sense of community and support among patients. Engaging with patients on social media enhances healthcare communication and encourages patients to share their experiences and seek advice.

Best Practices for Effective Patient Communication

• Personalise Communication: Tailoring communication to meet the individual needs of patients is essential for effective engagement. Personalised messages make patients feel valued and understood, increasing their willingness to participate in their care.
• Use Clear and Simple Language: Communication should be clear, concise, and free of medical jargon. Simple language ensures that patients understand their health information and instructions, reducing the risk of misunderstandings.
• Encourage Feedback: Creating channels for patients to provide feedback on their care experience is vital. Feedback helps healthcare providers identify areas for improvement and demonstrates a commitment to patient-centred care.
• Ensure Data Privacy and Security: Protecting patient data is paramount in healthcare communication. Healthcare providers must ensure that all communication platforms comply with data privacy regulations to maintain patient trust.

Conclusion

Engaging patients through technology is not just a trend but a necessity in modern healthcare. By adopting best practices in healthcare communication and leveraging advanced healthcare technology, providers can significantly enhance patient engagement and improve overall health outcomes.

To learn more about how technology can revolutionise your patient engagement strategy, explore our innovative product, Patient Central. Visit our Patient Central product page for more information on how this comprehensive platform can transform your healthcare communication and elevate patient care.

Take the next step in enhancing your patient engagement today with Patient Central.