The UK’s leading membership organisation for operating theatre practitioners has received significant funding for a new digital transformation project focused on patient safety.
The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP), based in Harrogate, received a grant from global medical tech company BD to support the digital transformation of its existing clinical auditing tool.
The Association for Perioperative Practice Audit Tool 2019 Edition, which was launched in August 2019, is currently available in paper form and can be ordered by hospitals and trusts for theatre practitioners to review their audit processes with a view to enhancing patient safety.
With the funding and support from BD, the association will be able to develop a new digital platform that will improve how auditors and practitioners work together, further benefiting the patient.
Dawn Stott, CEO of the association, commented: “We’re over the moon that BD has invested in our mission as it will help practitioners and patients in so many ways. We successfully launched the updated tool back in August, which has already been well received.
“The digital version will give departments even more opportunity to go beyond compliancy, reduce clinical error and improve staff wellbeing.
“Our Tool has already been successful in providing practitioners the opportunity to self-audit elements of the perioperative process whilst they wait for a member of the AfPP to perform the third-party audit.
“The funding from BD allows us to move with the times and take things to the next level, developing a new, integrated digital platform which will mirror our current paper audit process.”
The AfPP’s Perioperative Audit Tool 2019 Edition comprises peer-reviewed standards and recommendations for safe perioperative practice and forms a ‘gold standard’ framework for operating theatre departments to examine service performance and identify potential improvements in patient care.
With the digital transformation, hospitals and trusts will be able to access reports through a web-based platform and provide information to support their audit and accreditation process.
As part of the funding, AfPP auditors will also be provided with two Samsung Galaxy tablets instilled with medical audit software to help provide a more streamlined service and reporting platform.
Dawn Stott added: “It is more important than ever to deliver projects like these that create positive change, especially considering the recent comments on progress by the Chief Inspector of Hospitals of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
“At AfPP, we place patient safety at the heart of everything we do, which is why funding for this kind of transformation project helps us to continue our mission and support our members.”
Greg Quinn, director of public policy and advocacy at BD said: “Here at BD, our mission is to advance the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of safer patient care.
“Our support for AfPP not only honours this mission but allows them to continue enhancing patient safety; raising awareness of best practice, driving medical education and supporting improvements across the whole spectrum of perioperative care delivery and infection prevention.
“We are delighted to be working with an organisation which shares the same values as we do.”