Cardiac Network Strategic Plan for Financial Years 2005-08

VitalPAC Business Case May 2011

Introduction

The VitalPAC business case template was commissioned by South Central Strategic Health Authority to assist NHS organisation with their decision making and the need to develop a robust case for adoption of new technology.

Developed by NHS Innovations South East, the template is offered as an impartial tool to inform and help others consider the relevant drivers, costs and benefits associated with the proposed VitalPAC solution. Content within each section is based on things to consider rather than being too prescriptive.

VitalPAC comprises a core system plus a series of additional clinical modules that can be purchased from the Learning Clinic. Business drivers and module functionality have been split into several subsections for easy navigation. This will allow users to easily select content most relevant to their intended configuration.

The options appraisal section is modelled on three scenarios: do nothing, partial implementation and full implementation. Users of the tool may wish to modify this further to meet specific needs. The options are intended to be used in conjunction with a vitalPAC cost benefit tool also developed by NHS Innovations South East. The tool has been designed to input costs from a given NHS organisations and impartially model future quantitative benefits based on verified data from other vitalPAC enabled NHS organisations.

Further details regarding the cost-benefit tool can be obtained from:

Dr Anthony Hill

NHS Innovations South East

, 01235 838539

CONTENTS

1 Overview of VitalPAC 4

1.1 Core functionality 4

1.2 Additional Modules 5

1.3 Description of Operation 8

2 Strategic Fit 9

2.1 Business need addressed 9

2.2 Contribution to organisational key objectives, national objectives 12

2.3 Stakeholders 14

2.4 Constraints 14

2.5 Dependencies 15

2.6 Critical Success factors 15

3 Options Appraisal 15

3.1 Cost of project 15

3.2 Outline of options and cost benefit summaries 17

3.3 Preferred option 20

3.4 Workforce and training 21

4 Achievability 21

4.1 Evidence from similar projects 21

4.2 Implementation Approach 22

4.3 Project roles 22

4.4 Procurement strategy (where applicable) 23

4.5 Project Plan 23

4.6 Risk and Risk Mitigation 25

4.7 Benefits realisation plan 26

5 REFERENCES 31

APPENDIX 1 34

APPENDIX 2 35

APPENDIX 3 36

APPENDIX 4 39

1 Sample Content

2 Overview of VitalPAC

VitalPAC is a real-time, mobile ‘Track and Trigger’ information system that monitors patient condition and quickly identifies deteriorating patients, and enables healthcare professionals to capture vital signs electronically at the bedside. The system analyses vital signs together with other clinical data and provides risk scores and assessment tools.

VitalPAC allows hospitals to remove paper charts and other documents by capturing and displaying information electronically, clearly and accurately in real-time. This is achieved by full integration with hospital PAS and other systems such as pathology, radiology and microbiology.

VitalPAC supports online and remote surveillance of vital signs, risk scores and test results. Clinicians are able to monitor the progress of patients and can be alerted to adverse changes outside pre-determined criteria.

The core system also includes an administration module (VitalPAC admin) which allows changes to user accounts, hospital configuration set-up, over the air (OTA) deployment of software, PDA setup and ongoing device and activity monitoring.

2.1 Core functionality

VitalPAC uses handheld computers to capture vital signs data (pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate etc). The system manages the schedule of observations based on clinical need and prompts clinical staff to record required observations in line with hospital protocol. The data is then charted electronically.

· Guides nurses through a series of easy to use data entry screens, ensuring that a complete set of observations is recorded;

· Generates alerts to highlight deterioration in patient condition, risk of infection, oxygen dependency and when the next set of observations is due;

· Automatically and immediately calculates the patients Early Warning Score (EWS) in accordance with hospital protocol;

· Provides advice to the nurse on whether to ask for senior colleagues; support and how soon to repeat the observations;

· Ensures that colleagues respond in a timely fashion and generates alert calls for more senior support if this doesn’t occur;

· Highlights patients at risk of infection by issuing real-time SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) alerts.

· Provides a comprehensive, real-time electronic audit trail of system usage, care given/patient interaction and staff usage;

· Allows remote monitoring of patients by doctors, outreach and pain teams;

· Enables effective patient handover and earlier patient discharge;

· Provides real time visibility of patient’s clinical status;

· Generates accurate information on current working practice;

A ‘listening service’ allows a clinician to set personal notifications for any vital sign or pathology result that goes above or below a pre-set value.