Q Exchange
Indoor Positioning & Navigation System to aid delivery of emergency services
- Proposal
- 2023
What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to the theme of 'How can improvement be used to reduce delays accessing health and care services'?
Numerous new staff members join the trust daily and are holding emergency bleeps (cardiac arrest/stroke call). In case of any emergency they often have to ask for directions. In such emergencies seconds/minutes can make the difference between life, death or permanent disability, even by shaving off minutes we hope to significantly improve outcomes for such patients. This would also be helpful in case of evacuation, for visitors trying to find patients, food or other services inside the hospital. Visitors standing in hallways, reading maps, blocking corridors and then asking staff members for directions is another reason this application would be very successful.
What does your project aim to achieve?
Immensely improve response times for medical professionals in an emergency, helping reduce mortality and morbidity. (The idea came to me after a personal experience where I responded to a stroke call from a ward over night).
Help anyone inside the hospital building with directions for evacuation or direct towards fire extinguishers, crash trolleys, wheelchair bay, restaurant, vending machines, ATM and other services like scanning rooms etc.
The route suggested by the application will depend on the need of the user; are they on foot, pushing a chair or bed.
Audits can be done before and after the deployment of application to assess its impact.
How will the project be delivered?
Application to be prepared by a software house, with myself as product design head (to assure ease of usability and prioritizing emergency response teams with information they require).
Application will link up with WiFi throughout the hospital to accurately locate user positioning and then guiding them to their destination in an interactive manner through the quickest possible route.
The application could (in future) also be linked to emergency calls (stroke or cardiac arrest) to inform user of the emergency, its location and guiding them, along with highlighting any elevators that are out of service and blocked pathways
How is your project going to share learning?
This project will eventually be licensed to all hospitals in the UK as this feature is extremely necessary. Our deployment at Kings would be the pilot and then can be implemented in a similar way in other hospitals.
With the pilot project we can fine tune the delivery of information and improve emergency teams response time.
With feedback options available in app, we can be informed of any flaws or ways to better the application by the user
How you can contribute
- We will be looking for:
- - A range of staff types and patients to test our prototype.
- - An expert in information governance for hospitals
- - an expert in security for hospitals
Plan timeline
| 1 Sep 2023 | Create technical specification |
|---|---|
| 1 Dec 2023 | Prototype and Testing Phase |
| 1 Mar 2024 | Refine and finalise tech based on feedback |
| 1 Jun 2024 | App Launch |
Comments
Emma Sutton 18 May 2023
Great idea, how will you mitigate risks (like movement of item to a different location), and garner interest/uptake from staff? I would love to see this tested and measured. I wonder if the winners will be invited to present findings at a q event?
John Lodge 19 May 2023
Hi Emma! Unfortunately our idea didnt make it through the HF shortlist panel, but nethertheless we think the response from here has been so fantastic we're going to pursue money elsewhere to get the idea developed. When we source alternative funding we'll get back to interested parties on this group for some co-design and testing!
John Lodge 22 Mar 2023
Update: We have started to get quotes in to develop this idea and I can confirm they will be in the budget we are asking for.
Ayesha Abul Hassan 20 Mar 2023
This is a really good idea and should be start as soon as possible. It will be very helpful and will save a lot of time for everyone. Proper and timely access to treatment is important for patients.
AAll the best.
Janahan 20 Mar 2023
This looks like a fantastic project, the idea is excellent and will make a significant difference in the NHS
Laura-Jane Smith 16 Mar 2023
Love this! It has so much application across multiple specialties and helping patients find clinics. Good luck!
Saim 7 Mar 2023
Excellent idea! Every minute counts in an emergency healthcare setting during an emergency. This would be a game changer once implemented.
Ahmad 7 Mar 2023
Brilliant idea! If executed properly, will directly contribute to patient welfare. Also, would be interesting to see quantifiable impact going forward.
Andrea Cortes 6 Mar 2023
Good luck team! I can see this not only saving lives but helping every new starter at the hospital to avoid wasted time!
Shaughan 5 Mar 2023
This is a good idea.I do not think it can completely replace the need for maps and asking a fellow human for directions.
It will also be dependent on good hospital wifi which does vary considerably.Well so do all apps.
There would always be a cohort who would find it useful.
Good luck!
Dr. Pradeep Singh 4 Mar 2023
Great idea. Go ahead will definitely be beneficial project
Rana 4 Mar 2023
Waw.. What a wonderful thought.. Please go ahead
Naila Tarar 3 Mar 2023
Brilliant idea! Wishing you a great success.
Sardar Khan 3 Mar 2023
Brilliant idea, truly identified a gap. This can help save numerous lives. Hope this app finds success.
Sahir 2 Mar 2023
Great idea. Sure to be a great success.
Mustafa 2 Mar 2023
A great idea! Surprised it doesn't exist as yet. Could look into getting one of the larger Pharmaceutical companies to sponsor the initiative.
D 2 Mar 2023
Great idea - think this would save a lot of time. Good luck!
Shaheer 2 Mar 2023
I’ve spent way too long circling new corridors when I’ve no idea where I’m going. Glad something like this will be in existence soon,
Anum Shahnawaz 2 Mar 2023
This is a really good idea and should be implemented as soon as possible. It will be very helpful for everyone as it will save a lot of time - not just for patients and visitors but also for the newer staff members. I can imagine a time in the future when this will not only be useful but also a necessary.
Muhammad Saad Aziz 2 Mar 2023
It is difficult to facilitate both patients & the doctors with this app at the same time initially.
However, if even one of the two groups are chosen to be catered on the app effectively, the results will be apparent in no time!
Good luck!
John Lodge 2 Mar 2023
Hi Muhammad - can you clarify why you you think that is? It will initially be designed to meet a staff need, but when the obvious evolution to patients comes it would simply be a case of a staff or public login to give a different experience? Or is there something else we should consider?
Harwindar Kumar 2 Mar 2023
Excellent idea. I believe it will be very fruitful, save time and improve provision of health care.
Jen Watson 2 Mar 2023
Great idea John, so incredibly important in an emergency to get there ASAP, this would really help.
Sabah 1 Mar 2023
It sounds like a promising idea that would deserve to be developed and tested to improve staff experience when in a new hospital, and help reduce the waste in time lost hence potential degradation of patients.
Rita 1 Mar 2023
Hospitals can be very confusing, especially for locums and new doctors so this sounds like a useful project
Biba Stanton 1 Mar 2023
This would definitely help me personally - I think it could save a lot of time.
Afifa 1 Mar 2023
Great idea! It would definitely improve emergency response time that would likely result in better outcomes.
C 1 Mar 2023
An excellent innovation, in which I fully support for the use of staff, patient’s and visitors. The interactive aspect is a good accessibility feature. Good Luck!
Dr Moiz 1 Mar 2023
Great idea. Hope it gets implemented soon.
Karl Carpani 1 Mar 2023
Really useful concept. I hope this is something that would be rolled out across all sites. Its much needed.
Salman Tarar 1 Mar 2023
Great Idea.
Shah Syed 1 Mar 2023
Great idea, this would be very helpful and beneficial for the patients as well as NHS to improve the patient care.
Ghazi 1 Mar 2023
Very helpful, resourceful and efficient idea that can make people lives much easier! Looking forward
Asma 1 Mar 2023
Very satisfying
Farrah zaib 1 Mar 2023
It’s an amazing idea! I think it will be really help.
Ashraf M 1 Mar 2023
This is an amazing idea. This would be so beneficial for all healthcare professionals working in the hospitals, patients, relatives and other visitors. Innovative idea, which is undoubtedly needed and will positively impact patient and staff experiences. Excited to hear more!
Ashhab 1 Mar 2023
There is a similar system in numerous hospitals in Germany and could account for a detailed case study but these are to ensure easy access to different departments for patients . Color coded lines and automated wheelchair sensors can be used to help disabled aswell. I think this is great approach in big hospitals where tike is of essence and it can be disorienting for people who are ill. Proper and timely access to treatment is always key . Good luck!
John Lodge 2 Mar 2023
Thanks! Could you put us in touch? We have loads of ideas with this one. Most of them will probably be existing technologies, just bolted together differently to suit this need!
Rishm Saifullah 1 Mar 2023
In today’s age, (big) shopping malls have navigation apps to help assist the consumer and save time.
Even though there’s no life on the line!
This app for the hospital should definitely be developed! The development of it should be treated as a basic necessity for the hospital’s infrastructure to increase the staff’s efficiency and assist the user/patients.
After all time is the most important commodity we have in an emergency situation/protocol!
Aamir Sher 1 Mar 2023
Brilliant idea!
Dr.Hamza Tauqeer 1 Mar 2023
Every second counts!This would defiantly increase the chances for every patient and help the doctor improve their effeicency.
Arsalan 1 Mar 2023
Shahryar 1 Mar 2023
A much needed technology to navigate yourself through mega hospital structures. This will increase the overall efficiency of the space.
Stella Kenny-Siddique 1 Mar 2023
This is such an innovative idea. The best and simplest ideas are often the ones missed in the grand scheme of ideas put forward . It will be of enormous help to staff, patients and visitors especially in the bigger hospitals. Should definitely be of major benefit for medical teams.
Sarah alam 1 Mar 2023
Great idea! Should be monumental in saving time and in turn lives of countless critical care patients!
Shehryar 1 Mar 2023
Great idea! Should help a lot of people.
Mustafa 28 Feb 2023
I found it difficult to orient myself and get used to the new surrounding when I move to a new trust. I would be keen to use this app, especially when I move to big hospitals.
John Lodge 2 Mar 2023
yes - we see so much application for new joiners to prevent getting lost!
Amaad Beg 28 Feb 2023
A very useful and important idea which if implemented and executed correctly could make an enormous difference in the health care setting.
Junaid 28 Feb 2023
This is such a great concept and service that will improve patient safety and experience in general. This should be implemented across all NHS Trusts, especially the large hospitals.
Daniel 28 Feb 2023
An intriguing idea! Would be very useful and would certainly use.
Holly 28 Feb 2023
Fantastic idea, much needed & look forward to seeing the positive impact it will make =)
Wali sheikh 28 Feb 2023
A breakthrough idea that could mean the difference between life and death for emergency patients. Surprised it doesn't already exist!
Amna 28 Feb 2023
Its astounding that such an app doesn't already exist. This is not just a helpful idea but a necessity in 2023! Kudos to Mr. Lodge and Dr. Virk for trying to fill this gap in emergency service delivery.
Marv 28 Feb 2023
This is just an awesome idea/service which will definitely help in the overall patient experience and safety
. It would be great to see this replicated in all the Trusts in the NHS, especially big hospitals.
Arsalan Zaheer 28 Feb 2023
excellent idea. Especially useful in in city areas. Hoping to see this concept applied to all major cities in the uk and europe.
Neha 28 Feb 2023
A very useful service/idea, would definitely make patient care a lot more smoother and would end up saving valuable time. Looking forward to seeing it being implemented.
Shams 28 Feb 2023
Great and practical Idea, would be useful
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