Ward Wizard

 

Ward Wizard will revolutionise hospital handovers – a secure software system that will improve communication, access and efficiency.

We are a team made up of Nathan Huneke and Emma Vaccari – both medical students at the University of Manchester – and Tessa Davis, a paediatric trainee in the North Western Deanery.  We are all passionate about improving the clinical environment through the use of technology.  We feel that mobile devices should be a more intrinsic part of our clinical work – they have such great potential for dealing with many of the inefficiencies we all experience day to day at work.

One of the most frustrating inefficiencies is the way patient information is stored, organised and updated on doctors’ handover sheets.

So, we are presenting to you our idea – Ward Wizard – a software system that makes handover information user-friendly, easily accessible and secure.

Please have a look at the video we designed to demonstrate our proposal (click on the video below to play).

We have also posted a more detailed explanation below.  Feel free to comment as we are open to suggestions and ideas on how to improve the software.

 

Click on the image above to watch the video

 

What is the problem?

As medical students and doctors we see an obvious daily issue on the ward – the efficiency of the way clinical teams manage their handover information.

Handovers are usually on simple documents that get printed out for everyone to have a copy; are scribbled on throughout the day; and are updated at the end of the shift.

This results in a few major problems: patient information put at risk due to handover sheets left lying around; it’s not easy to update the handover sheet during the day; consultant who are out of the hospital can’t keep track of progress; it’s difficult to communicate with other teams members during the day; medical students don’t know the ward patients to find out who would be suitable for them to see.

 

What is the solution?

Our solution is Ward Wizard, a handover system that links a web-based software with mobile platforms.

 

What are the features of our software?

Syncing handover information in real-time with mobile devices

• can be accessed and edited from any computer or mobile device
• jobs list points can be tracked and checked off when completed
• notes and new jobs can be added by staff and all users will automatically be updated and alerted
• messages can be sent to other team members

 

(Click on the thumbnails to see larger images)

Secure storing of information

Ward Wizard are aware of the importance of the security of patient information and we believe that the current system puts patient information at risk.  Our system will be secure and robust.

• access given to selected team members
• password-protected
• all data backed up on servers stored securely and encrypted
• remote data wiping if mobile device is lost or stolen

 

 

How does Ward Wizard benefit people?

Better for patients - secure storage of their information; more efficiency in organising and tracking their investigations

Better for junior doctors - improved communication and co-ordination of the team; automatic updates on patient progress; reduced workload due to lack of documentation duplication

Better for consultants - can keep track of the ward even whilst out of the hospital

Better for med students - more information about patients and activities on the ward; improved access to learning opportunities; more integration with the clinical team

Better for Trusts - reduced printing costs; wards more efficiently run; increased efficiency during handover improving working time directive compliance

 

Our Vision

We are committed to this project and very excited about its potential.  Medical apps are being used every day by doctors and medical students, and the next natural step is to embrace the use of mobile devices in our day-to-day clinical work.  This project brings technology and clinical practice closer together and moves mHealth in the NHS on to the next level.