A computer alert system is helping healthcare teams provide faster and better care for acute kidney injury patients at Stepping Hill Hospital.

The IT alert system, the only one of its kind in Greater Manchester, will help save local lives by ensuring patients get specialist care and treatment as soon as they arrive at hospital to prevent them from developing chronic kidney disease.

It is estimated that one in five patients taken into hospital for an emergency will be suffering from an acute kidney injury, a sudden reduction in a person’s kidney function.  In the UK around 100,000 deaths each year are associated with acute kidney injuries, and up to 30% of these could be prevented if a patient is given the right treatment.

Wendy Oakes joined Stepping Hill Hospital in March 2016, working as a specialist nurse for acute kidney injury. She is working with Dr Karl Bonnici, clinical director for acute medicine to raise awareness about the condition with staff and provide new care plans and guidance for these patients.

When a patient comes to the A&E department, a blood test is taken which determines whether a patient has an acute kidney injury.  When the doctor or nurse updates the patient’s electronic record the IT system then sends an immediate colour-coded alert about the patient to the computer screens where doctors and nurses first view lists of patients.  This information is particularly useful in the fast-moving environment of A&E, acute medical and surgical assessment units.

The alert system helps highlight the diagnosis of acute kidney injury.  Earlier recognition and timely intervention is fundamental in reducing the possible complications associated with acute kidney injury.

Since the system and care plan was introduced six months ago, very strong improvements have been made in the care patients receive. For patients with the most severe acute kidney injuries, 40% more acute kidney injury patients have received an initial urine test and a kidney scan within the first 24 hours. There has also been a 10% improvement in stopping earlier any medication which may be harmful to these patients.  A full critical care evaluation has also been carried out within 12 hours on 30% more acute kidney injury patients.

Wendy Oakes said “The prevention and management of acute kidney injury is not rocket science. It’s about getting the basics right, especially in the first 24 hours. The new alert system, together with the new care plan, will really help ensure patients get the treatment they need as soon as they possibly can.  If we continue to improve the care we deliver, over the long term this will have a positive effect on patient outcomes, and in some cases save lives.”