Modernizing Communication: University Hospitals of Derby and Burton Partners with Cinos
In a significant move towards enhancing healthcare communication, the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust has announced a partnership with systems integrator Cinos to modernize its unified communications platform. This initiative aims to streamline communication across the trust, which serves over a million residents in South Derbyshire and East Staffordshire, ensuring that healthcare professionals can connect seamlessly, regardless of their location.
The Need for a Unified Communication Platform
As healthcare delivery evolves, the demand for efficient communication systems has become paramount. Simon Reynolds, head of voice services at UHDB, emphasized the necessity of a standardized platform across the trust’s multiple sites. “It has become a fundamental need to provide our agile workforce with the capability of maintaining access and making and receiving calls, regardless of where they’re based,” he stated. This modernization effort is particularly crucial following the merger of Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2018, which resulted in a complex network of separate telephony systems across five different sites.
The Rollout of Cisco-Powered Telephony
The rollout of the new Cisco-powered telephony service is currently underway at Royal Derby Hospital, with plans to extend the system across the entire trust by February 2025. This cloud-based platform is designed to facilitate easy communication among staff, reducing reliance on the busy switchboard service that has historically hindered efficient communication. By integrating with Microsoft Teams, a tool already in daily use by staff, the new system promises to enhance collaboration and streamline workflows.
Future-Proofing Telephony Infrastructure
In addition to improving communication, the new system incorporates a session initiation protocol (SIP) service. This feature will enable UHDB to more accurately forecast call expenditures and prepare for the impending retirement of Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) services in 2027. The strategic implementation of SIP not only modernizes the telephony infrastructure but also ensures that the trust remains resilient in the face of technological advancements.
Enhanced Emergency Communication Solutions
Recognizing the critical nature of emergency communications, Cinos will also deploy an emergency telephone solution at both of UHDB’s acute sites. This system will ensure that essential handsets, used for raising emergencies and summoning crash teams, remain operational even during local outages. This proactive measure underscores the trust’s commitment to patient safety and operational reliability.
Supporting Each Other: A Collaborative Switchboard Solution
Another innovative aspect of the new telephony system is the collaborative switchboard solution, which will enable both hospital switchboards to support each other as needed. This feature is particularly beneficial in times of high demand or unexpected challenges, ensuring that patient care is never compromised due to communication breakdowns.
A Step Towards Comprehensive Digital Transformation
The partnership with Cinos is part of a broader trend within the NHS to modernize legacy telephony systems. Dan Worman, executive director of Cinos, noted, “Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen trusts like UHDB make significant strides in modernizing their legacy telephony systems to ensure their workforces are supported by a reliable and resilient unified communication platform for anytime, anywhere communication.” This modernization is crucial as healthcare providers increasingly rely on technology to deliver high-quality care.
Recent Innovations: BadgerNet Electronic Patient Record
In addition to the telephony upgrade, UHDB has also made strides in digital transformation by rolling out the BadgerNet electronic patient record and Badger Notes online portal in its maternity services in June 2024. This initiative further exemplifies the trust’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance patient care and streamline healthcare processes.
Conclusion
The partnership between University Hospitals of Derby and Burton and Cinos marks a pivotal step in the modernization of healthcare communication. By implementing a cloud-based, Cisco-powered telephony system, UHDB is not only improving internal communication but also ensuring that its staff can provide the highest level of care to patients. As the trust continues to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape of healthcare, initiatives like these will play a crucial role in fostering a more efficient and effective healthcare environment.