Salford Royal Research: Transforming Clinical Efficiency and Safety with Eolas

Institution: Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

Department: Emergency Medicine

Project Type: Quality Improvement Initiative

Period Assessed: August – November 2022

Tool Introduced: Eolas Medical app

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The Problem

Healthcare professionals at SRFT were routinely delayed by IT systems when searching for critical clinical information — including:

• Departmental policies

• Specialist contact numbers

• Patient information leaflets

• Treatment pathways

• Emergency protocols

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Even with newer technologies like Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and QR codes in Resus, clinicians reported access times were too slow — especially during time-sensitive patient care moments.

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The Intervention: Eolas Medical app

To address this, SRFT deployed the Eolas Medical app as part of a trial in their Emergency Department. The app aimed to deliver:

• Lightning-fast access to key clinical resources

• Streamlined communication tools (e.g., rota management)

• Education, wellbeing, and safety update sections

• Offline access capability

A diverse group of clinicians (ACPs, junior doctors, consultants) participated in timed trials comparing access times using:

1. Pre-Virtual Desktop infrastructure

2. Virtual Desktop-only setup

3. Virtual Desktop + QR Codes in Resus

4. Eolas Medical app

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Quantitative Results: Time to Access Clinical Information

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Total average time to find 5 items:

• Pre-VDI: 7.9 minutes

• VDI Only: 7.2 minutes

• VDI + QR Codes: 4.4 minutes

• Eolas Medical App: 🚨 2.1 minutes — a 73% faster experience vs pre-VDI.

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Key Benefits

Efficiency Gains

• Reduced average access times by up to 87% for critical protocols and contacts.

• Clinicians save minutes per shift — critical in emergency settings.

Patient Safety

• Faster access to protocols = better compliance with evidence-based care.

• Timely treatment decisions reduce risk and enhance outcomes.

Staff Satisfaction & Burnout Reduction

• Reduced frustration from current IT systems.

• Centralised, intuitive access improves workflow and morale.

• Additional features support clinician wellbeing (rotas, wellbeing hub).

Key Takeaways

• Information access delays significantly impact frontline care — even with modern IT intranet systems.

• A mobile-first, context-aware solution like Eolas Medical, dramatically improves speed and usability.

• Such platforms directly contribute to efficiency, safety, and workforce resilience — key challenges in today’s healthcare landscape.