Haraldsplass is investing in more digital communication with patients and relatives

With the help of digital forms, it is possible to monitor the patient more closely without the patient needing to visit the hospital. The patient can be followed up at home, allowing for the exchange of important information and saving both the patient and the hospital time and resources

New ways to collaborate

More and more patients require hospital admission and outpatient follow-up. This makes it more important than ever to streamline and improve how we collect information and how we communicate with patients.

Since 2018, Haraldsplass Diaconal Hospital has been working to increase the use of digital solutions. Until 2022, the efforts have primarily focused on orthopedic patients, but now the hospital is expanding the use of digital forms (CheckWare) to more patient groups.

- With the help of digital forms, it is possible to monitor the patient more closely without the patient needing to visit the hospital. The patient can be followed up at home, allowing for the exchange of important information and saving both the patient and the hospital time and resources, says Petter Thornam, Medical Director at Haraldsplass Diaconal Hospital.

Fewer communication channels

The Anesthesia Department at the hospital has developed a self-declaration form that everyone scheduled for surgery must complete. Haraldsplass, in collaboration with Helsenorge, the supplier (CheckWare), and HVIKT (Health West ICT), has started sending these forms out via the Helsenorge platform. This means the patient has fewer communication channels to manage, and the hospital is more confident that the patient receives the necessary information.

In 2022, the Medical Department began sending forms to patients with gastrointestinal issues and to patients at the Hypochondria Clinic. Now Haraldsplass is starting to send questionnaires to relatives of patients being evaluated for dementia.

- By involving relatives of patients with, among other things, dementia digitally, we can obtain information in advance, and the doctor can learn more about the patient's functioning from the relatives’ perspective before the appointment, says Medical Director Petter Thornam.

Jannike Madsen is one of several Haraldsplass employees working on the project "Digitization of patient follow-up in the surgical clinic." She sees great benefits in the new solution. (Photo: Frida Urheim)

Patients who report that they have needs are called by a nurse the same day. The hospital started this solution in August, and we have found that patients use the solution extensively and the feedback on user-friendliness is positive

Innovation Project

In 2022, the surgical clinic received innovation funding from Helse Vest to continue development in the project "Digitization of patient follow-up in the surgical clinic." This is a comprehensive project working to optimize the digital workflow in Haraldsplass's surgical patient pathways.

- In the project, for example, a form has been developed for all patients who have undergone day surgery to inquire about how they are doing after the operation and whether contact with the hospital is necessary due to, for example, bleeding or pain, says Petter Thornam.

- Patients who report that they have needs are called by a nurse the same day. The hospital started this solution in August, and we have found that patients use the solution extensively and the feedback on user-friendliness is positive.

In addition to this, work has begun on creating informational videos for selected day surgery pathways.

- We know it can be challenging for patients to take in everything said during their appointment at the hospital, but by sending the information in video form, patients can watch it as often as needed, says the medical director.

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