We are leading the way on a new initiative for pre-operative assessment which is being rolled out across our three acute sites and moves from a face-to-face assessment in hospital to a brand new digital system.
Project Elsie has changed the way we assess patients before surgery. It allows patients to answer questions on their mobile device and delivers information about the hospital, anaesthesia, recovery, medicine and fasting alerts. It also has a messaging system for patients to contact clinicians, should they have any questions.
NHS Lanarkshire is the first health board in Scotland to use this system, which will improve the efficiency of the surgical pathway at a time when waiting lists are growing due to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Patients without mobiles, or struggling to use the system, can either ‘buddy’ with a relative or friend or take part in telephone or video support, with their information still being digitised, allowing reminders, alerts and information to be delivered.
The new digital system is already being used in University Hospital Hairmyres and University Hospital Monklands with plans to introduce it to University Hospital Wishaw this month.
Information on the new app is available for staff and patients on our website at: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/pre-operative-assessment/elsie/
