Enhancing patient safety with HeadTrack, anti-coagulant medication management for NHS patients
Automatic text alerts
Staff dashboard login
Secure patient information
Dynamic web pages
Introduction
In collaboration with our consultant neurosurgeon, research at the University of Plymouth and Made with Maturity (one of the UK's leading UX / UI design agencies), we've developed HeadTrack. HeadTrack is an innovative application designed to improve the management of anticoagulant medications for NHS patients. Currently undergoing clinical trials, HeadTrack addresses the critical need for precise medication tracking when patients are required to stop or start taking anticoagulants around surgical procedures or after injuries. By automating reminders and involving next of kin, HeadTrack ensures that vulnerable patients adhere to their prescribed medication schedules, thereby reducing the risk of adverse events.
The Challenge
Managing anticoagulant medications is a complex task, particularly when patients must adjust their medication intake before or after procedures. The NHS faced significant challenges in ensuring patients complied with these critical instructions, especially those who are elderly, vulnerable, or less familiar with technology. The manual process of tracking medication schedules is prone to errors, which could lead to serious health risks, including excessive bleeding or thrombotic events. This situation placed considerable strain on specialist nurses and healthcare providers, who were responsible for ensuring patient safety.
Landing Page
The front page of HeadTrack, which follows GDS design standards.
Initiation of the Project
The project was initiated when the Consultant Neurosurgeon identified the need for a more efficient and reliable system to manage anticoagulant medications and approached Made with Maturity, a local UI/UX design agency with a strong track record for professional website designs, to assist in bringing this vision to life.Recognising the project's technical demands, Made with Maturity partnered with our development team to transform their user-centric designs into a functional and secure application. This collaborative effort combined medical expertise, exceptional design, and robust development practices to create a comprehensive solution tailored to the NHS's needs.
Features of HeadTrack
HeadTrack offers a suite of features designed to streamline anticoagulant medication management:Intuitive User InterfaceCrafted by Made with Maturity, the application's design ensures ease of use for healthcare professionals, patients, and their families, facilitating seamless interaction and minimal learning curve.
Patient Information ManagementSpecialist nurses can effortlessly input and manage patient details, including medication schedules and next of kin information.
SMS and Email AlertsThe system sends timely reminders to patients via SMS and email, informing them when to stop or start their medications as per their treatment plan.
Next of Kin NotificationsAlerts are also sent to designated next of kin, ensuring additional support and oversight for patients who may require assistance adhering to their medication schedules.
Secure Cloud EnvironmentWe've built this application with security in mind, such as:
- Data Encryption: All patient data is stored and transmitted using advanced encryption protocols, safeguarding sensitive information against unauthorised access.
- Compliance with Healthcare Standards: The application adheres to strict healthcare data protection regulations, ensuring compliance and maintaining trust.
- Scalable and Reliable Infrastructure: Built on a secure and scalable cloud platform, HeadTrack guarantees high availability and performance to meet the demands of NHS operations.
Development and Implementation
The development process was characterised by close collaboration and iterative feedback among all stakeholders. Through detailed discussions with the Consultant Neurosurgeon and NHS staff, we identified the critical functionalities and user needs that the application should address. Made with Maturity developed comprehensive UI/UX designs focusing on accessibility and ease of use, ensuring that the application would be intuitive for all user groups. Early prototypes were created and tested with end-users to gather feedback and make necessary refinements.Our development team employed agile practices to build the application incrementally, allowing for continuous integration of feedback and swift adaptation to changing requirements. Robust SMS and email services were integrated to provide a reliable notification system that's easily accessible by patients and their next of kin. Advanced security features were embedded throughout the application to protect patient data comprehensively. HeadTrack is currently undergoing clinical trials within selected NHS departments to evaluate its effectiveness and gather extensive user feedback. These trials are critical in assessing the application's potential for broader implementation.
Add a New Patient
A snippet of what NHS staff see when they add patient details into the system.
Outcome
As HeadTrack is still in the clinical trial phase, the application is being closely monitored to assess its impact on patient safety, compliance with medication schedules, and overall user satisfaction. Preliminary feedback has been positive, indicating that HeadTrack is on track to meet its objectives. If the clinical trials are successful, HeadTrack will proceed to a national trial phase. This phase will involve a larger and more diverse patient population across multiple NHS sites to validate the application's effectiveness on a broader scale. Upon successful completion of the national trial, there is potential for HeadTrack to be rolled out across the wider NHS, where it could significantly enhance anticoagulant medication management on a national level.Depending on the outcomes of the ongoing clinical trials, HeadTrack has the potential to revolutionise anticoagulant medication management within the NHS. Looking ahead, there are opportunities for further development, such as:
- Integration with Electronic Health Records (EHR): Linking HeadTrack with existing EHR systems could provide a more comprehensive view of patient health and streamline data management.
- Expansion to Other Medication Types: Adapting the application to manage other critical medications could extend its benefits to a broader patient population.
- Enhanced Reporting and Analytics: Incorporating detailed reporting features could assist healthcare providers in monitoring compliance trends and identifying areas for improvement.