Patients undergoing an endoscopy at Mildura Heath Private Hospital (MHPH) can now immediately receive doctors’ notes and images taken during the procedure, following the installation of a new recording system.
The Endobase system gathers and links data from an endoscopy, storing it in a centralised database which is readily accessible to send to other medical staff and patients.
The technology ensures that proceduralists are performing an endoscopy in line with the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standards, and reduces time spent on manually entering data following a procedure.
Mildura Health Private Hospital Specialist General Surgeon Dr Jim Tryfonopoulos, who on average performs 30 endoscopies each week, was the first to use the new system on Tuesday.
“Within a few seconds of a report from a gastroscopy or colonoscopy being generated, it can be sent off, which certainly helps with information flow,” Dr Tryfonopoulos said.
“Previously, we had to do two reports – one handwritten and one on the computer, whereas this will be one centralised system which is a lot more efficient.”
MHPH Acting Nurse Unit Manager Linda Stone said following an endoscopy, which is commonly performed to investigate cancers, ulcers, bleeding and abdominal pain, a patient can immediately receive photographs, videos and information from their procedure.
“The system can formulate a patient letter allowing a patient to go home with the actual report from their endoscopy,” Ms Stone said.
“It also provides more accuracy. For example, if the surgeon comes across any polyps, they can accurately document where it is in the colon and record exactly where it is removed.
“Further down the track, the surgeon can do a repeat colonoscopy and go back and look at those specific areas to do a comparison.
“Previously, they would not have the photos unless the surgeon brought them along with them.”
Dr Tyfonopoulos is one of five proceduralists who performs endoscopies at MHPH.
Installing the system has also helped the hospital achieve the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard for accreditation and will be instrumental in gaining better outcomes for patients.
