London Programme for IT

Top tips for going live

Camden and Islington Foundation Trust is the seventh mental health trust to go live with the RiO electronic patient record system. This means that 70% of London mental health trusts are now using RiO.

Around 500 staff are using RiO at Camden and are already reaping the benefits. Senior nurses, for example, can now log onto the computer each morning to get patient updates before visiting the wards. Patients' notes are updated throughout the day so real-time information is accessed by the team at the click of a button. Time is saved and patient care improved.

Camden has some useful advice for trusts planning to go-live with RiO. Simon Kidd, Project Manager at Camden, has these top tips.

1 - Quick reference guide

Put together a quick reference guide to RiO, which can be circulated to teams during the week before go-live. We found that this was used more than the RiO training manual as it was tailored to using the system in our particular trust. Brightly coloured, it was easy to find in a hurry, and we included business continuity forms and procedures so they were close to hand.

2 - Go-live operations room

We set up an operations room to answer queries and triage issues during the first few weeks of go live. Manned by the transformation manager, staff could pop in and ask questions in person or pick up the phone and talk problems through. Everyone knew the room was there and made maximum use of it.

3 - More floor walkers

Enrol as many floor walkers as possible. We found that the best ones knew the trust well and had working knowledge of mental health. Champion users are great, although it's unfair to rely on them on day one because realistically it takes around three months for them to know their way around RiO properly. Another idea is to bring in people from other London trusts that are already using RiO.

4 Clear your diary

If you're the project manager, my best advice is to clear your diary for the two weeks leading up to go live. You'll have lots of meetings so are unlikely to have time for anything else. Be prepared!

Benefits statement

The NHS London Programme for IT has published its first Benefits Statement.