BreastScreen Victoria (BSV), the Victorian Government’s breast cancer screening organisation, has moved one step closer to full Electronic Records Management by partnering with Vitro Software.
Building on the success of the pilot BSV ran, with Vitro Software and the BreastScreen service at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, paper records will no longer be required. BSV’s clinical team can track a client’s progress in real time during assessment, improving workflow and enabling the clinical team to assume responsibility for electronic record keeping.
The initial Vitro Pilot was designed as part of a long-running strategic vision to transform the organisation from a paper-based records system to a fully-digital system, including processes for mammography and ultrasound. This digital system was developed through co-design, testing and implementation by BreastScreen Victoria’s Radiologists, radiographers, nurse counsellors, data and administrative staff and the Vitro Software team.
Dr Helen Frazer, Clinical Director at St Vincent’s BreastScreen, is enthusiastic about Vitro’s role as a central mechanism of the organisation’s client centric care strategy.
“Our clinicians quickly experienced the benefits of Vitro, a flexible system designed specifically for the breast assessment service” said Dr Frazer. “Our clinicians found the software easy to use, and our team found that the time taken to issue written results reduced from 12 days to one or two. The new digital whiteboard has improved patient flow, providing for a better experience for both patients and staff.”
The outstanding success of the Vitro pilot has informed the decision to expand the paperless system to the rest of BreastScreen Victoria. Over the coming months, further development is planned in preparation for a state-wide expansion.
“We are delighted with the success to-date and look forward to completing the next stage of our transition to electronic records management for all clients” said Georgina Marr, Director Information Technology Services at BreastScreen Victoria. “We really valued the commitment, expertise and pragmatic approach of the Vitro project team who worked in partnership with us to deliver the solution.”
Vicki Pridmore, CEO of BreastScreen Victoria added: “Our team were on board from the start and it is with thanks to them and the Vitro Software team that we have seen such success. Part of that success has involved a huge shift in the elimination of physical records management, leaving our staff and clinicians the time to provide an even better experience and quality of care to a greater number of clients.”
David Nash, Global CEO of Vitro Software said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with BreastScreen Victoria who are at the cutting edge of breast cancer screening in Australia. We see this contract as the start of a long partnership with BreastScreen Victoria and a first step for Vitro Software to expand into the screening area both in Australia and globally”.
Vitro Software is supported in Australia and New Zealand by Enterprise Ireland, Ireland’s national export agency. Enterprise Ireland Australia/New Zealand Director David Eccles added: “Vitro continue to innovate in their approach to healthcare IT and the way they uniquely meet the needs of each of their clients using technology that is flexible, adaptable and highly user friendly. We are delighted to see such fantastic results from the pilot program and wish them all the best with the Victorian rollout.”
About BreastScreen Victoria
BreastScreen Victoria delivers two-yearly breast screening services via reminder letters to women aged 50-74 years. Breast screening is provided free of charge, including initial screening, mammograms and any further tests and assessment that may be needed to investigate an abnormal result. BreastScreen Victoria, an accredited part of BreastScreen Australia provides over 270,000 screens annually. To learn more about BreastScreen Victoria, visit: www.breastscreen.org.au
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