A list of functions that IBIS assists with.
A Do Not Attempt Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) order is a document that states a patient’s wishes in the event that their heart stops beating. DNACPRs are sent into SECAmb from GPs and other community teams, and are electronically scanned and stored on IBIS. If an ambulance is responding to a patient who has a DNACPR, the clinicians will be informed of the presence of a DNACPR whilst en route. The ‘gold standard’ is for the clinician to see the original paper copy with the patient, however if that cannot be found (e.g. lost) then the clinician can verify with a clinical colleague in the EOC that they can see an electronic copy on IBIS. This prevents unnecessary resuscitation and ensures that the patient’s expressed wishes are adhered to.
Some patients have complex care needs that require an ambulance clinician to step outside of their normal scope of practice/protocols. A Patient Specific Instruction (PSI) is a document that details specific treatment for a patient. An example may be a severe brittle asthmatic patient that requires very high doses of steroids to be administered, or a child under palliative care that has a specific resuscitation protocol. These instructions (also known as Anticipatory Care Plans) are usually written by a specialist consultant and ‘authorise’ SECAmb’s clinicians to provide the treatment. Like DNACPRs, these PSIs are also stored on IBIS for quick and easy access by our clinicians.
SECAmb’s Specialist Paramedics (Paramedic Practitioners, Critical Care Paramedics and EOC Clinical Supervisors) use the IBIS system to send a Clinical Summary (also known as a discharge summary) to a patient’s GP. This electronic pdf document is sent by email and contains a summary of the History, Examination, Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-up that is required.
Falls account for approx. 10-20% of calls to the Ambulance Service. Following attendance to a patient that has fallen, the ambulance clinician completes a proforma on IBIS that screens the patient’s risk for future falls. High risk ‘Priority 1’ and urgent ‘Priority 2’ referrals are sent electronically to the local Falls Service to assess the patient. Low risk ‘Priority 3’ notifications are also sent to the Falls Service as information and provide an evidence base to allow early intervention & prevention.
Similar to Falls Notifications, SECAmb are currently developing IBIS to notify community diabetic teams when a patient has had an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). This allows the community team to proactively intervene early and help prevent further episodes in the future. Hypoglycaemia Notifications are currently live in some areas of Surrey and are in the process of being rolled out across the region.
If you would like further information about IBIS or you are a care team wishing to be set up on IBIS, please use the form on our contact us page.