Videoconferencing Solution Enhances Patient Care

Pioneering work on videoconferencing and telemedicine across Lincolnshire is providing real benefits for staff and patients.

The new technology, which is revolutionising healthcare across the Trust, allows doctors and surgeons to make a diagnosis miles from their patients' bedsides.

The investment in videoconferencing equipment means clinical staff can discuss cases across specialities despite sometimes being more than 30 miles apart.

With videoconferencing two or more people, in different locations, can see and talk to each other. Each location has a video camera, a microphone, a monitor and speakers either as part of a PC or stand-alone unit. Other equipment can be added such as a second camera or a document camera.

Previously, the oncologists, radiologists and pathologists who provide the backbone to the cancer service network, had to travel between the three sites for Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (MDTs) - wasting valuable time and money. But now they can share information at the touch of a button, without leaving their base.

MDTs are an essential component of the Calman Hine restructuring of cancer services across the NHS. MDT working is also essential to meet Cancer Service Accreditation Standards and is promoted by the Department of Health's National Cancer Plan.

The project is already having a direct impact on the delivery of patient care across the region and is helping to achieve Cancer Plan targets and Local Modernisation Review priorities.

As recently as 1999/2000, MDTs were meeting only monthly and were able to discuss at most six or seven cases per session. The logistical problems in organising patient files to include all films, clinical reports and pathology lab results for each MDT meeting were extremely time consuming, and many weeks could separate the patient's first hospital visit and agreed plan of care.

With the introduction of the integrated telecommunications system, MDT meetings are now held weekly and up to 20 cases can be reviewed in one session, often clearing the waiting list.

It has also achieved the goal of a better multi-professional opinion for patients and has helped to promote education and training and encourage the promotion of best clinical practice and clinical audit.

The project itself to establish this technology within the Trust was initiated by representatives from the IT, Radiology, Pathology and Medical Electronics departments.

Working closely with Direct Visual, it was decided to install 13 Polycom videoconferencing units across the Trust's three sites. The units allow connection between sites via:

• ISDN (384 kilobits per second)
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Wide Area Network (WAN)