BMEC TriVice Case Study
The Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC) is one of Europe’s largest tertiary eye hospitals, renowned for clinical care, research, and education. As a centre of excellence, BMEC offers specialised tertiary referral services across Birmingham and the West Midlands. This case study explores how BMEC implemented TriVice, an innovative electronic triaging system, to address challenges in managing emergency eye patients and improve overall patient care.
Revolutionising Emergency Eye Care
TriVice is a leading healthcare innovator that uses an advanced AI-powered platform to transform the healthcare referral process.. It enhances efficiency, reduces unnecessary referrals, and streamlines administrative operations, benefiting primary, secondary, and community care services. By integrating TriVice, healthcare providers can expect a significant shift towards more patient-centred care delivery that is streamlined and efficient.
1. AI-Driven Triaging
TriVice, developed by Capri Healthcare Ltd, is an electronic triaging system designed specifically for ophthalmology patients. This AI-driven platform enables rapid and accurate triage of various eye conditions, including emergencies like retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
2. Real-Time Responses
The system provides real-time responses and easy access for all involved parties, thereby reducing unnecessary patient journeys and preventing delays in patient care.
3. Collaborative Approach
BMECand Capri Healthcare have collaborated to co-design the triaging algorithm and implemented TriVice to address the challenges in emergency eye care.
BMEC: A Centre of Excellence
Specialised Care
BME Coffers specialised tertiary referral services across Birmingham and the West Midlands, ensuring high-quality eye care for patients in the region.
Right Care, Right Here
Committed to providing ‘Right Care Right Here’, BMEC treats patients at Birmingham City Hospital and other local sites, ensuring high-quality care closer to home for Sandwell and Birmingham residents.
Research & Education
As a centre of excellence, BMEC is not only known for its clinical care but also for its contributions to research and education in ophthalmology.
Challenges Faced by BMEC
1. Inefficient Referral System
BMEC received most referrals from optometrists and operated a ‘walk-in’
system for emergencies. Non-urgent patients were often redirected to community optometrists, but they might have been referred back to BMEC, leading to an inefficient patient journey.
2. Communication Issues
Optometrists felt pressured to send patients to BMEC’s Eye Emergency Department (EED) due to inadequate responses from BMEC’s email referral system and difficulties in obtaining telephone advice.
3. Manual Triaging Process
The EED’s triaging system relied heavily on manual, face-to-face methods,
including paper-based forms and verbal assessments, lacking a telephone triage system. This manual process was time consuming, prone to errors, and could delay treatment, which was critical for serious eye conditions.
4. Resource Strain
The labour-intensive nature of manual triaging put an enormous strain on staff resources, potentially overburdening them and affecting the quality of care. The slow and inefficient process also resulted in long waiting times, decreased patient satisfaction, and reduced productivity
How TriVice Works
1. Symptom Analysis
TriVice employs algorithms and machine learning to analyse patient symptoms, providing a priority score to indicate urgency.
2. Prioritisation
This system enables clinics to prioritise urgent cases and allocate resources efficiently, reducing waiting times and improving patient outcomes.
3. Real-Time Triaging
TriVice facilitates real-time triaging by BMEC doctors, offering timely management advice to referrers. Referrers can upload images, videos, and other relevant information and utilise a secure messaging chat system.
4. Data Analysis
TriVice gathers and analyses data on symptoms and treatments, providing insights that aid in continuous improvement of emergency eye care services
Benefits of TriVice Implementation
1. Reduced Wait Times
The system decreases patient wait times, enhancing patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes.
2. Improved Patient Outcomes
TriVice ensures prompt and appropriate treatment, leading to improved clinical outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.
3. Enhanced Capacity
By efficiently prioritising urgent cases, TriVice helps EED allocate resources more effectively, increasing their capacity to treat critical patients.
4. Cost Savings
The system reduces costs associated with manual intake processes and increases revenue through improved patient throughput
Challenges and Long-Term Benefits
Challenges
– Increased initial workload for clinical staff
– Investment in technology and training
– Integration with existing systems
Long-Term Benefits
– Improved resource utilisation
– Better patient outcomes
– Enhanced patient satisfaction
Future Steps
1. System Integration
BMEC continues to collaborate with their IT system supplier to integrate TriVice with their electronic patient records via APIs. This integration will allow staff to manage referrals and appointments within existing systems, boosting efficiency and maximising TriVice’s benefits.
2. Expanded Functionality
BMECplans to expand TriVice’s functionality by integrating desktop widgets into GP practice management software like SystmOne and EMIS for easier access.
3. Quantifying Benefits
The next steps involve quantifying and validating identified benefits, and measuring improvements in patient outcomes such as reduced wait times, enhanced clinical results, and higher patient satisfaction.
4. Data-Driven Improvement
This data-driven approach ensures TriVice not only meets but exceeds expectations in enhancing emergency eye care services.