Installation complete: Team behind specialist software receive Award of Excellence
Staff in the Information Development Team at Epsom and St Helier hospitals have been presented with the Chief Executive’s Award of Excellence in recognition of their work developing new software to support identification of an acute kidney injury (AKI).
Simon Easton, Joyce Rochester, Sathya Sekar and Darren Veal worked together for four years to develop the software which analyses blood results: the result is a piece of automated software that works between several different programmes to alert doctors to a loss of kidney function. The automated response can then be shared on other digital platforms to ensure doctors and nurses are aware of the onset of an AKI in the patient they are treating.
Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles said: “I am extremely pleased to present this award to the team involved in developing this fantastic new software.
“The ability to quickly and effectively identify, treat and manage the underlying causes of an AKI is essential in ensuring that our patients have the best possible outcomes – and that’s why this new software is so exciting for us, as the team have developed a tool that will help us do exactly that! Not only does the software benefit the patient while they are in our care, the automated response system that Simon, Joyce, Sathya and Darren have created allows the data to be shared with each patient’s GP when they are discharged from hospital, helping to make sure our patients continue to receive the care need even after they have left hospital.”
Development of the software was initiated by Consultant Nephrologist Dr Brigu Sood who, having recognised the need to find a faster way to get treatment to patients who had experienced an AKI, approached different teams across the trust to establish a collaborative response to what can be a potentially fatal condition. The work is already paying off, as Daniel explained: “The feedback from the wards about the software has been fantastic, which is a great testament to the success of the project and the hard work that went into creating the new software. Our reporting of AKI is now some of the best in the country. I am extremely proud of the team and what they have developed, and am really excited to hear more about the difference it will make to our clinical teams and, most importantly, our patients.
“Congratulations to Simon, Joyce, Sathya and Darren on such a fantastic achievement. As well as recognising the team for their hard work, my thanks also go to Dr Sood for initiating this project and for nominating his colleagues for this award!”
The Chief Executive’s Award of Excellence is presented each month to a member of staff nominated by patients, visitors and/or their colleagues. In special instances the Chief Executive will ask that a ward or individual receives special recognition for the work that they have done in the trust. If you would like to make a nomination, please visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/nominate. Winners are presented with a certificate and gift voucher in recognition of their achievement.
