Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Invests In Online Clinical Skills Training Solution

Elsevier Clinical Skills will help improve consistency of clinical practice and manage professional training

Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is providing its healthcare professionals with access to a new, interactive online training solution from Elsevier that enables staff to improve patient care and record their annual learning.

The Trust has implemented the Elsevier Clinical Skills online training tool following a needs analysis carried out after the Francis Report. The analysis recognised the demand for clinical skills teaching, ongoing competency assessment and a requirement for trust-wide education programs following any serious untoward incident.

The solution provides more than 3,000 healthcare professionals – medical students, healthcare students, qualified staff and healthcare assistants – access to training modules covering an extensive range of practical and communication skills. Each skill module consists of an overview, equipment listing, demonstration video or animation, competency checklist and self-test option. Once completed, competency then requires sign off in practice.

"Elsevier Clinical Skills not only supplements our existing training programme, but also creates an ethos whereby learning becomes something that happens continuously in the workplace," said Val Dimmock, Simulation and Clinical Skills Facilitator at Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. "Whether staff are returning to work after a period of time or simply need to refresh or add to their skills, they now have easily accessible, interactive, learning modules on the ward to meet immediate patient needs".

In addition, clinical skills leads, trainers and ward managers have the ability to assign skills to specific user groups, track usage and analyse results. Meanwhile the tool's customisable functionality means that existing skills can be modified by administrators in line with specific training goals or to support staff and organisational needs such as CQUIN targets or local trust policies.

"Our organisation is becoming increasingly paperless, so moving training out of the classroom and onto the ward not only provides benefits for staff who need a more practical approach but is also in line with our vision of becoming a more modern hospital," Val Dimmock said. "At an institution level, this tool offers the opportunity to improve clinical governance through the ability to rollout trust-wide education programs, whilst the ability to track training contributes to compliance and CQC requirements for both soft and hard intelligence and data."

The Trust expects to see a significant return on investment as a result of a fewer face-to-face training hours and improved staff productivity. "For patients, the benefit is simply safer, higher quality care from a competent and confident workforce," Val Dimmock said.

"Having previously worked in the NHS for 20 years, I am confident that Elsevier Clinical Skills is a unique product in supporting training delivery, outcome evaluation and compliance in a single, customisable solution," said Clare Green, e-Product Manager, Elsevier. "Homerton has a reputation for high standards in education and learning and this partnership should enable their strategic objectives of high quality service provision alongside continuous staff and organisational development."
 
To see how Homerton is using Clinical Skills to address the recommendations of the Francis Report, go to http://youtu.be/nAcauBY-xMY.

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About Homerton University NHS Foundation Trust
Homerton is an innovative and friendly Foundation Trust based in the east London Borough of Hackney. The Trust provides general hospital and community services to Hackney and the City of London, and specialist care in obstetrics, neonatology, fetal medicine, fertility, bariatric surgery and neurorehabilitation across east London and beyond.

About Elsevier
Elsevier is a global information analytics company that helps institutions and professionals progress science, advance healthcare and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, more than 35,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. www.elsevier.com

Media contact
Christopher Capot
Director, Corporate Relations
Elsevier
+1 212 633 3164
c.capot@elsevier.com