Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has given the families of intensive care unit (ICU) patients access to a digital patient diary.
The move has been made using the Patients Know Best (PKB) system to help patients and families stay in touch during the restrictions on visits caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
ICU staff are using the online patient diary to update families with entries that can include pictures and videos. Each day the diary is photographed and attached to the patient record on the PKB platform. Next of kin are temporarily allowed secure access to this information so they can stay connected and view the record at a time that suits them.
Aside from helping them stay in touch it reduces the pressure on staff who can find it challenging to constantly update families.
Morgan Thanigasalam, clinical lead for digital innovation and transformation at Sherwood Forest, said the project was completed in three weeks and has already positive feedback.
Patient diaries were already in use on the ICU, but until now they have not been accessible online by families. A typical diary will include who has looked after the patient, how they have been, who has called and any events that might be personal to the patient that have happened, such as the weather or football team results.
The purpose of the diary is to fill in the gaps for the patient whilst sedated as this can be challenging to come to terms with, especially after a prolonged period.
Image from Patients Know Best
