Authors (including presenting author) :
Choi WMA(1), Tan YW(1), Yeung TH(1), Behera M(1), Hung GK(1), Man E(1), Ng KY(1), KY Leung(1), W Cheng(2), Chee YY(1), Wong MS(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Hong Kong Children's Hospital
(2) IT department, Kowloon Central Cluster
Introduction :
Since the establishment of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH) in 2019, the designated Critical Care Transport (CCT) team have retrieved critically ill neonatal and paediatric patients requiring highly specialized intensive care e.g. neonatal surgery, cardiac surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, renal replacement therapy and chemotherapy from various regional hospitals to HKCH.
To ensure safe and effective transport, we have standardized referral workflows including a systematic clinical handover involving all specialty teams, intensive care team and transport team managing the patient. Also, we have standardized the equipment and medications brought for transport to ensure a more efficient dispatch and mobilization time from HKCH.
Objectives :
Through the CCT innovative information technology project, we hope to reduce manual workload of transport team staff on documentation and communication, and improve efficiency and safety through on-site specialist support.
Methodology :
Since year 2022, we have pioneered a 5G data transfer system, transmitting real-time patient vitals to the HKCH Intensive Care Unit Clinical Information System and minimized manual charting and documentation, to allow transport team members to solely focus on the patient, whilst in transit.
A secure password protected video platform was also set up to allow high quality uninterrupted live video and audio communication between relevant specialty teams at HKCH and CCT team at the regional hospital and during transport. This real-time tele-medicine platform offers the opportunity for specialty teams to provide on the spot advice and support the CCT team especially in highly complex cases.
To facilitate communication between CCT team and on-site teams, a chatbot was created, so by pressing one simple button, the receiving team will know the transport team reached the referring hospital or ready for departure. This is further supplemented by the GPS tracking system, which allows receiving teams to know the patient's exact location, and initiate admission procedures prior to patient's arrival to HKCH.
An electronic body-weight based drug calculator was also integrated in the ipad mount on the transport incubator to minimize medication error and enhance medication safety.
Result & Outcome :
In conclusion, the introduction of this innovative IT set-up for our team has enabled more time to focus on managing the complicated cases enroute whilst providing remote support from specialty experts at HKCH and ensure accurate documentation of vitals and safe medication dosing.
