Hospital communication at The Christie, as with most other NHS Trusts, had historically relied on a fragmented mix of mobile phones, extension numbers, emails, and pagers. The Trust embraced a digital-first approach by implementing Alertive, consolidating communication into a single, secure platform. Beth highlighted how this shift has made processes more efficient.
The ability to triage messages has been particularly valuable, especially for teams receiving high volumes of alerts. Beth explained how more informative digital alerts help prioritise responses based on urgency.
Digital Nurse Implementer
Alertive is becoming the one route of communication. Before, staff had multiple channels, but now, everything is streamlined into one platform, making it quicker and easier to contact the right teams.
One of the most significant advantages of a robust digital communication system is its reliability in emergency situations. Beth told us about a recent network outage that temporarily disabled key IT systems, including electronic patient records and prescribing platforms. Despite this disruption, staff were still able to coordinate effectively.
“Since Alertive operates on Wi-Fi rather than the main network, it remained functional. This allowed managers to communicate, share updates, and ensure continuity of care during the outage.”
Beyond improving efficiency, digital communication tools have enhanced transparency in patient care. Beth described how digital audit trails provide valuable insights for incident investigations.
This increased visibility not only protects staff but also helps refine clinical workflows, reducing the likelihood of errors in future cases.
“With conventional bleeps, there was no way to track what happened after an alert was sent. Now, we can review past conversations to understand decision-making, ensuring accountability and learning from incidents.”
As The Christie continues its digital transformation journey, Beth sees growing confidence in technology among staff.
Beth shared more insights on digital transformation at our webinar. Click the link below to sign up to the webinar and and hear more exclusive insights about from The Christie.
“People are getting more confident in using digital platforms. It’s becoming second nature to have these tools in their pocket, and it’s changing how we think about communication in healthcare.”
