A new heavy-use whiteboard designed to help nurses and ward managers save time and allow extra focus on patients has been launched.
The VisiPrem whiteboard from Visual Systems Healthcare has been designed to be delivered as part of the Productive Ward initiative - an NHS programme aimed at improving ward processes and environments, allowing nurses and therapists to spend more time on patient care, thereby improving safety, efficiency and costs.
A 2010 study in the Journal of Hospital Medicine identified that the use of whiteboards resulted in improvements in teamwork, communication and patient care as they allow nursing staff to easily identify outstanding tasks and potential backlogs, which can ultimately lead to delayed discharges.
If each ward sends one patient home a month with one less day of delay, it can save up to £9,000 a year for each ward.
Chris Hunter, managing director of Visual Systems Healthcare, said: “Ward staff need to remain updated on the constant flow of people and information passing through their departments every day in order to function effectively.
“The consistency and discipline ascertained from using a VisiPrem whiteboard ensures clear communication between nursing staff and allows time for a better standard of care for patients.
“The VisiPrem whiteboard has been manufactured to handle the rigours of extremely busy ward environments. Clear information systems reduce time spent on administration and interruptions – and this means time saved can be spent on improving patient care.”
To withstand high traffic areas, the VisiPrem is easy to clean with a high coated surface that ensures visibility is not impaired over time and helps hospital theatres and wards function effectively.
It was originally designed accident and emergency departments and has a magnetic durable surface, with the lightweight board sitting within a highly-anodised aluminium frame.
