High-tech revolution in care for patients
HIGH-TECH processes and controlled financial resources are transforming East Cheshire Hospice into a charity with a difference.
Their use of recordsharing technology – EMIS Web – has transformed patient care by recording patients’ wishes accurately and consistently across healthcare services, ensuring information such as advanced decisions or preferred place of death, are visible in real time when needed.
And their financial controls ensure that donations are invested wisely in services that local people actually need.
“We pride ourselves in making a difference to people’s lives and so we look at every aspect of our operations to ensure we are doing things differently as well,” said hospice director Mike Pyrah.
“There is no ‘head office’ in London or Manchester to fund from local donations and all financial contributions help to keep the hospice running around the clock for the people of East Cheshire,” he adds.
Helen Knight, clinical and operations director, says that 30 other hospices are looking to East Cheshire to learn more from their use of the EMIS Web technology.
“End of life care involves often complex and sensitive discussions with patients and being able to record that information and ensuring it is visible to the right people at the right time is crucial.
“Until EMIS Web was introduced, we simply weren’t able to ensure the records were up to date or readily accessible. Patients often had to repeat themselves.”
And the hospice supporters also make a difference to the daily care and services on offer.
More than 12,000 people supported the hospice last year, many continuing to support even when they no longer live locally. And their growing team of more than 600 volunteers also give around 100,000 hours every year.
Mike Pyrah says their supporters are also a creative bunch, coming up with over 200 different ways of raising money.
“From having a collection bucket at a birthday party, or the classy What Women Want Ball or even a full on Barn Bash hoedown which raised more than £18,000 in one single night, we really have an imaginative group of supporters.”