Authors (including presenting author) :
Fong YL (1), Lau HL (1), Wong WK (1), Wong SY (1), Wong CY (1), So MT (2), Yip OW (2), Chau CY (2), Peter Chan (2), Edmund Cheng (2)
Affiliation :
(1) Specialist Outpatient Department(SOPD), Pok Oi Hospital (2) HIRD Department, Pok Oi Hospital (3) IT team, Pok Oi Hospital
Introduction :
The pilot project of paperless consultation in Surgical clinic of SOPD POH was proposed by Surgical Doctor in SOPD POH in July 2019 & well supported by the top management, SUR doctors, Q&S team, HO and local IT and HIRO team. The aims to implement paperless consultation to save doctor consultation time, minimize the paper storage, document clinical notes electronically, minimize manual handling and risk of incorrect filing. To gain more experiences prior to implement the project, top management arranged us to visit PYNEH in July 2019 and recommended to implement it phase by phase. The time and manpower consuming issue on “printing consultation summary” was identified. It took around 28 mins per doctor in one session to print out consultation summary with physical signature. The paper utilization for printing consultation summary estimated around 250-300 pieces per session (1 to 2 sheets per patient). In addition, supporting staff required to use at least 90 mins per session to check and collect the medical records after doctor consultation.
Objectives :
1. To save doctor consultation time
2. To minimize paper storage
3. To document clinical notes electronically
4. To minimize the manual handling and risk of incorrect filing
Methodology :
In order to implement the project systemically, we sought advice from DOM, Q&S team, HOIT, local IT and HIRO team. The pilot to stop printing consultation summary in Surgical clinic in SOPD POH was proposed in SOPC committee on 10/7/2019 and briefed in SUR Departmental Meeting on 16/7/2019 with fully supported by team head and team members.
We encountered some difficulties on stop printing consultation summary issue. Firstly, “Auto Print” function was set up already in each CMS machine. Doctors intended to stop printing consultation summary and required to click off the function manually after each consultation. Secondly, “Not Auto Print” function once set up could also apply to ORT clinic in SOPD POH due to they shared CMS machine in same zone. HOIT and Local IT provided prompt support to default an individual SUR doctor for “Not Auto Print” function. Finally, the pilot was commenced in February 2020.
Result & Outcome :
The trial run of Not printing consultation summary was well supported by all surgical doctors, nurses and supporting staff.
Surgical doctors welcome the project and facilitate their consultation time.
Supporting staff save more time to collect and check the consultation summary.
Paper utilization in Surgical clinic is obviously decreased.
The pilot project of paperless Consultation-Not Printing Consultation Summary in Surgical Clinic of SOPD POH was running smooth and the next phase will be on trial folderless consultation in Surgical Special GI Tumour Clinic (SUR-SGIT) in SOPD POH. All doctors, nurse and supporting staff welcome to the enhancement work. The way forward is to implement on demand label printing and step away to achieve the paperless consultation in SUR clinic in SOPD POH.
