Computerised workshops help with assessment of procedures

Citation

(2001), "Computerised workshops help with assessment of procedures", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 14 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2001.06214dab.005

Computerised workshops help with assessment of procedures

Computerised workshops help with assessment of proceduresKeywords: Hygiene, Standards, Hospitals, Assessment, Technology

Standards of cleanliness in hospitals and the control of infection in the NHS have been the subject of recent media concern. A computerised voting system developed by interactive communications specialists IM is now being used in workshops to help NHS trusts and health authorities assess their compliance against the best practice in a number of key areas.

The system has been pioneered by the NHS East Coast Audit Consortium in a series of more than 80 workshops in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Using cable free keypads and on-screen presentations, delegates at the workshops can make an honest and open appraisal of their practices and procedures. These assessments then act as baselines in their work towards the NHS obligatory standards, covering controls in areas such as health and safety, transport, medical equipment and devices, medicines management and records management.

The workshops, for up to 20 people, bring together risk managers, directors, doctors, consultants and nursing staff to look at where their organisation is in terms of a particular standard and how the position can be improved. IML's Question Wizard software, working within Microsoft PowerPoint is used to develop and display questions, which are projected onto the screen for the audience to view and respond to using their keypads. The results from the handsets are transmitted back to the computer via the transceiver and instantly displayed on screen. The data are also stored for future analysis and reports.

Martin Hill, the Audit Consortium's Director of Audit Services explained:

We begin the sessions with a series of on-screen questions, which gradually get more detailed. Using the voting system, delegates can record their answer or opinion. Because it's anonymous at this stage and because everyone’enters their answer independently, there's no danger of stronger voices drowning out the minority, or of people being reluctant to answer honestly.

However, despite the anonymity, Martin has found that the system actually encourages debate around the results, shown instantly on-screen. He said that at this stage, people seem very happy to stick up for their opinion and that's very important in helping organisations get an understanding of grass-roots feeling.

The end result of each workshop is a prioritised action plan, agreed by all delegates, and a commitment to owning’those solutions. According to Martin:

In a large organisation it's often more difficult and time consuming for auditors to gain consensus agreement for significant and far reaching changes when individuals from a variety of disciplines and divisions are involved. With the new approach, agreement is reached at the workshop – and that means the action plan already has the backing of people throughout the organisation. As a result, real improvements can be made quickly and easily for the benefit of the organisation.

He says the equipment makes a big difference compared with workshops using more traditional methods. The process is faster, fairer and more open, more involving for the delegates, with instant results, and the reports are easy to create afterwards.

The trusts and health authorities have seen the difference too and are now starting to request specific workshops on other areas of their business.

For further information, contact IML Limited, 8 London Road Liphook, Hampshire, 6U30 JAN, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1428 727476; E-mail: info@iml.ftech.co.uk; Website: www.iml.Itd.uk